Brahms, Johannes : 4 Stücke Op.119
Work Overview
Publication Year：1893
First Publisher：Simrock
Instrumentation：Piano Solo
Genre：pieces
Total Playing Time：17 min 00 sec
Copyright：Public Domain
Commentary (1)
Author : PTNA Piano Encyclopedia Editorial Department
Last Updated: January 1, 2010
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Author : PTNA Piano Encyclopedia Editorial Department
One of Brahms's very late works. After composing numerous sonatas and variations in his early and middle periods, characterized by a grand musical conception that seemed to transfer orchestral textures directly to the piano, Brahms wrote five collections of short pieces, from the "8 Pieces, Op. 76" in 1871 to the "4 Pieces, Op. 119." Here, Brahms once again attempted the unique harmonic cohesion and condensation of poetic content that he had previously displayed in many of his Lieder. The emotional shifts expressed here are now things of the past, and the work leaves a deep impression with its gentle, melancholic melodies that evoke a nostalgic longing for his younger self. This work marked his final composition for piano.
No. 1: Intermezzo in B minor
It is not bright, yet neither pessimistic nor despairing, conveying a sense of tranquility that transcends all emotions. Particularly in the middle section, Brahms's distinctive dotted melodies, frequently used in his earlier works, are highly striking.
No. 2: Intermezzo in E minor
In stark contrast to the tranquility of the preceding piece, this movement conveys a certain instability, both rhythmically and harmonically. Could this be a vague anxiety about the approaching death? The middle section is remarkably simple, evoking a religious transcendence, as if an innocent era free from all anxieties might return in heaven.
No. 3: Intermezzo in C major
The theme is constructed using an oriental pentatonic scale. Although light, the left-hand accompaniment figure originates from the bass, creating a "giocoso" character that also possesses a German earnestness.
No. 4: Rhapsody in E-flat major
The piece opens with a majestic, fanfare-like theme built on weighty chords. In contrast to the delicate, piano-like quality of the preceding three movements, this piece is highly symphonic, featuring dense, weighty chords and, in the middle section, arpeggiated chords reminiscent of pizzicato. The ending is dramatically conclusive in a solemn E-flat minor, almost feeling like a betrayal compared to the opening of the first movement.
Movements (4)
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