Brahms’s 16 Waltzes for piano duet are one of the three groups of dances he published during the 1860s; the other three being the first ten Hungarian Dances, also for piano duet, and the 18 Liebeslieder-Walzer, op. 52 for piano duet and vocal quartet. All three were composed in a “popular” style and were largely responsible for Brahms’s growing reputation among the general public as well as a significant source of his personal fortune.
The Waltzes have much in common with those of Franz Schubert and are in no way like the grand episodic waltzes of Brahms’s contemporary and friend Johann Strauss II. Brahms’s usual complex compositional traits are not in the forefront here and the sole focus seems to be nothing more than melodic charm (although, no. 16 does manage to slip in a passage in double counterpoint). Despite this, Brahms thought well enough of these miniatures and, as mentioned above, they were quite successful. He later published two arrangements for piano solo—one in keeping with the original duet version and a simplified version for pianists of lesser skill. Joseph DuBose
Classical Music | Piano Music
Johannes Brahms
Six Waltzes from Op. 39 Play
Recorded on 06/01/2011, uploaded on 01/16/2012
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Brahms’s 16 Waltzes for piano duet are one of the three groups of dances he published during the 1860s; the other three being the first ten Hungarian Dances, also for piano duet, and the 18 Liebeslieder-Walzer, op. 52 for piano duet and vocal quartet. All three were composed in a “popular” style and were largely responsible for Brahms’s growing reputation among the general public as well as a significant source of his personal fortune.
The Waltzes have much in common with those of Franz Schubert and are in no way like the grand episodic waltzes of Brahms’s contemporary and friend Johann Strauss II. Brahms’s usual complex compositional traits are not in the forefront here and the sole focus seems to be nothing more than melodic charm (although, no. 16 does manage to slip in a passage in double counterpoint). Despite this, Brahms thought well enough of these miniatures and, as mentioned above, they were quite successful. He later published two arrangements for piano solo—one in keeping with the original duet version and a simplified version for pianists of lesser skill. Joseph DuBose
More music by Johannes Brahms
Paganini variatons
Capriccio in d minor, Op 116, No. 7, from Seven Fantasies
Variations on a Theme by Haydn
Capriccio in c-sharp minor, from Eight piano pieces, Op. 76
Intermezzo in E Major, Op. 116, No. 4, from Seven Fantasies
Schicksalslied, Op. 54
Intermezzo in A Major, from Eight piano pieces, Op. 76
Intermezzo in e minor, Op. 116, No. 5, from Seven Fantasies
Intermezzo in b minor, Op. 119, No. 1
Klavierstücke op. 118 - VI. Intermezzo
Performances by same musician(s)
Danse Russe and The Shrovetide Fair, from Petrushka
Tango No. 2
Prelude Op. 3, No. 2, in c-sharp minor
Libertango
Prelude Op. 23, No. 2, in B-flat Major
Fantasy in f minor, D. 940
La Valse
Prelude Op. 32, No. 5, in G Major
Prelude Op. 32, No. 10, in b minor
Prelude Op. 23, No. 10, in G-flat Major
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