Johannes Brahms: Sonata Op.120 No.2: Clarinet: Instrumental Work

Sonatas op.120 for Clarinet and Piano-In 1894 Johannes Brahms asked the clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld to visit him during his beloved summer sojourn in Ischl adding “It would be really wonderful if you brought your B flat Clarinet with you andif you were in no great hurry” – for the two Sonatas Op. 120 were waiting to be rehearsed. The first performances were given privately directly afterwards and the press enthusiastically reported: “Thesonatas [...] are wonderful and will cause a great sensation”. These were the last chamber pieces Brahms wrote before his death and are considered two of the great masterpieces in the Clarinet repertoire.

for Violin and Piano-Brahms had already announced his ?retirement? from composition when in the spring of 1894 he played chamber music with the cellist Robert Hausmann and the clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld. This encounter apparently renewed his enthusiasm for Mühlfeld?s much admired playing and inspired him to write two Clarinet sonatas in the summer of the same year.Brahms conceived an alternate version of the works for Viola from the beginning and already before the publication of these two versions he intended to do another one for Violin a version which was to require changes and was to result in an independent edition. While the Clarinet and Viola versions havedeveloped a rich performance tradition the Violin version is almost unknown. Yet for the Violin version the composer revised the original Clarinet part much more extensively than he did for the Viola version and also rewrote the Piano part to achieve a thoroughly convincing Violin and Piano idiom. This Bärenreiter edition aims to bring the neglected Violin Sonatas Op. 120 back into players? hands.An important part of this edition is the extensive preface. Firstly it informs about the sonatas? origins their compositional process pre-publication performances their publication history as well as early reception. Truly remarkable is the unique Performance Practice Commentary. Here the editors start from the premise that already a few decades after Brahms' death a widening gulf developed between the composer's expectations and the performance practices of the early 20th century. On the basis of manifold sources which include memoirs by pupils and chamber music partners treatises and essays early instructive editions and historical recordings the editors deal with key issues in understanding Brahms' notation. By a section-by-section analysis of rhythm and timing dynamics and accentuation dots and strokes slurring and non legato Piano pedalling and overholding Piano arpeggiation and dislocation string instrument fingering string instrument harmonics and vibrato the editors provide an indispensable assistance for a historically informed interpretation of the works.At the same time the edition offers an exciting and

Version for Viola-In the later years of his life in the 1890s Johannes Brahms was inspired by the clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld to compose Trio Op.114 Quintet Op.115 and the Sonatas Op.120 – three gems inthe Clarinet chamber music repertoire. Brahms also provided a part for Viola as an alternative to the Clarinet. The revision of this Henle Urtext edition of the Viola version of Op.120 is based onthe musical text of the New Brahms Complete Edition and in many respects contains significant improvements: the original autograph was consulted for the first time the newly set Piano score now contains the Viola part and Violaplayers can benefit from fingerings and bowings by Tabea Zimmermann in the solo part.

Barenreiter Urtext Edition of Brahms' Sonatas In F Minor And E-Flat Op.120 for Clarinet and Piano.Features:A pioneering Urtext edition with an extensive Performance Practice CommentaryFor further information on Romantic performance practice we recommend the text booklet: ?Performance Practices in Johannes Brahms? Chamber Music? BA 9600Brahms had already announced his 'retirement' from composition when in the spring of 1894 he played chamber music with the cellist Robert Hausmann and the clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld. This encounter renewed Brahms' enthusiasm for Mühlfeld?s muchadmired playing and inspired him to write two new Clarinet sonatas in the summer of the same year. Brahms and Mühlfeld premiered the works and played them in several performances until the Sonatas Op.120 were first published in June 1895. These two works remain pivotal in the Clarinet?s recital repertoire establishing the Clarinet sonata as a distinct and viable chamber music genre.This edition features an extensive preface that informs about the sonatas? origins their compositional process pre-publication performances and their publication history as well as their early reception. Another truly remarkable aspect of this publication is the unique Performance Practice Commentary. Here the editors start from the premise that only a few decades after Brahms' death a widening gulf was already developing between the composer's expectations and the performance practices of the early 20th century. On the basis of manifold sources which include memoirs by pupils and chamber music partners treatises and essays early instructive editions and historical recordings the editors deal with key issues in understanding Brahms' notation. The editors provide an indispensable assistance for a historically informed interpretation of the work through a section-by-section analysis of rhythm and timing dynamics and accentuation dots and strokes slurring and non legato Piano pedalling and overholding Piano arpeggiation and dislocation Clarinet vibrato and portamento. At the same time the edition offers an exciting and often surprising

Les plus grandes ?uvres pour Piano de Johannes Brahms, arrangées pour Piano Solo / Classique / Partition /

A classic Clarinet masterpiece with Piano accompaniment from Brahms' rich-textured romantic repertoire. This is a heavier moodier piece than the first part of Opus 120 but they compliment each other magnificently. Composed mainly of flat keys this piece is suited to players of upper intermediate level.