Brahms was deeply interested in musical tradition, using 'archaic' devices and collecting instances of consecutive octaves and fifths in earlier composers' works.
Compositional Technique
Brahms's 'Studies for the Piano' are free adaptations of works by other composers, often enhancing their difficulty, such as transferring original right-hand material to the left hand.
Composer Biography
Brahms had close practical involvement with Bach's music and Renaissance works through his conductorship of the Vienna Singakademie in 1863/64.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Brahms was deeply fascinated by J.S. Bach's Ciaccona from Partita in D minor, BWV 1004, describing it as a 'whole world of the deepest thoughts and most powerful feelings' written for a small instrument.
Performer Biography
Barry Douglas, the pianist on this recording, won the Gold Medal at the 1986 Tchaikovsky International Piano Competition in Moscow and is the Artistic Director of Camerata Ireland and the Clandeboye Festival.
Compositional Technique
Brahms's two Gigues, WoO 4, show his absorption in J.S. Bach's style, adopting the typical binary form with inverted initial material in the second half.
Composer Biography
This album features works by Johannes Brahms, spanning his entire creative career from 1852 to 1893, less than four years before his death.
You might also enjoy...
Brahms: Complete Works for Solo Piano
Brahms: Pièces pour piano
Brahms: Works for Solo Piano, Vol. 1
Sonderausgabe für Augustinermuseum Freiburg: Johannes Brahms, Vol. 2
