Andreas Boyde, the pianist on this recording, has a wide-ranging repertoire and has given European and world premieres of contemporary piano concertos.
Composition History
The Baroque dances (WoO 3-5) on this album, composed in 1854-55, were not published during Brahms's lifetime, though he reused their material in other works.
Composition History
Brahms's late piano works, Opp. 116-119, were composed after he had decided in 1890 that his String Quintet Op. 111 would be his last work.
Notable Performances
Clara Schumann, a close friend of Brahms, performed two of his dances in London in 1856, making them the first pieces by Brahms to be played in England.
Composer Biography
Johannes Brahms published his final works for piano, Opp. 117-119, between 1892 and 1893, despite previously stating his intention to stop composing.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Brahms privately referred to his Three Intermezzi, Op. 117, as 'three lullabies of my sorrows,' and the first piece includes a poetic tag from a Scottish lullaby.
Compositional Technique
Brahms's Albumblatt, a brief piece written for Clara Schumann's half-sister Marie Wieck, features an unusual dual time signature with the right hand in 3/8 and the left hand in 2/4.
