The Great Composers Podcast - a classical music podcast

Brahms pt. 15b: we detail the course of the Brahms-Joachim relationship as they return to something like their former friendly relations and see how is other friendships and partnerships evolve, disolve, change and mature as we reach the year 1887. 

Works heard in this episode in order (all by Brahms):

1. Tafellied op. 93b
2. Der Tod, das ist die kühle Nacht op. 96 no. 1
3. Wir wandelten op. 96 no. 2
4. Nachtigall op. 97 no. 1 arr. for viola and piano by...me (viola)
5. Symphony no. 4 in E minor, mvt. 1 Allegro non troppo
6. Sonata for Violin and Piano in A major, op. 100, 
   1. Allegro amabile
   2. Allegretto grazioso
7. Double Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Orchestra op. 102, mvt. 3 Vivace non troppo

 

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Brahms pt. 15a: we return to the life narrative of our great composer, picking up where we left him in the summer of 1879 adding the finishing touches to his D major violin concerto which he had written for and with the advice of his great friend, Joseph Joachim. This was the high point of their friendship and musical partnership; but for how long would the happy feelings last, and if they didn't, how long would it take Brahms to reclaim them?

 

Works heard in this episode in order (all by Brahms):

- Hungarian Dances WoO 1 books 3-4, nos. 11-21

17. in F Sharp Minor (Andantino)

18. in D major (Molto Vivace)

19. in A Minor (Allegretto)

20. in D Minor (Poco Allegretto)

11. in D Minor (Poco Andante)

12. in D Minor (Presto)

13. in D Major (Andantino Grazioso)

14. in D Minor (Un Poco Andante)

15. in A Major (Allegretto Grazioso)

16. in G Minor (Con Moto)

21. in E Minor (Vivace)

Robert Gerle - Violin

Norman Shelter - Piano

 

- Piano Concerto no. 2 in B Flat Major, Op. 83 

IV. Allegretto grazioso - Un poco più presto

 

- Symphony No. 3 in F major

III. Poco allegretto 

 

- 6 Lieder and Romances, op. 93a

I. Der bucklichte Fiedler

II. Das Mädchen

III. O süsser Mai

IV. Fahr wohl!

V. Der Falke

VI. Beherzigung

Sung by Ensemberlino Vocale 

https://musopen.org/music/6729-6-songs-and-romances-op-93a/

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In Brahms pt. 14 our pause in the narrative continues as we study the greatest of all violin concertos, that by Johannes Brahms. We will analyze the relationship between Brahms and the work's first, possibly finest performer Joseph Joachim, putting the concerto in the context of his performing life and in relation to other works in the genre. We conclude with a discussion of cadenza's, but Joachim and others, which happily allows us to revisit Fritz Kreisler, seeing how his life intersects with Joachim's and Brahms's, and discuss another of my heroes: the violinist Jascha Heifetz. Works heard in this episode in order (all by Brahms):

-Concerto in D major for Violin and Orchestra, op. 77

Unmarked recording from Musopen's "European Archive" (possibly Jacques Thibaud...)

1. Allegro non troppo

2. Adagio 

3. Allegretto giocoso, ma non troppo vivace

https://musopen.org/music/2130-violin-concerto-in-d-major-op-77/

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In Brahms pt. 13 we pause the narrative and retrace our steps to spend some more time with the Second Symphony. A brief discussion of the symphony and an analysis of its motives will be presented, including excerpts from it and a complete recording by the Musopen Symphony. 

Works heard in this episode in order (all by Brahms):

-Symphony no. 2 in D major op. 73

Multiple excerpts recorded by Chang Ji, violin and Kevin Nordstrom, viola

1. Allegro non troppo

2. Adagio non troppo

3. Allegretto grazioso

4. Allegro con spirito

Musopen Symphony

https://musopen.org/music/65-symphony-no-2-in-d-major-op-73/

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Pt. 12:  It is early November 1876 and Brahms is in the audience as the orchestra at Carlsruhe premieres his first symphony in C minor. The concert goes better than expected and riding high on his success, Brahms performs the symphony many more times elsewhere. Its positive reception gladdened his heart and he quickly produced another symphony to celebrate, then a series of other wonderful works including the first violin sonata in G major, and the monumental violin concerto for Joseph Joachim. 

Works heard in this episode in order (all by Brahms):

-Symphony no. 2 in D major op. 73, mvt. 3 Allegretto grazioso

-Capriccio in B minor op. 76, no. 2, Luis Sarro, piano, https://musopen.org/music/2037-8-piano-pieces-op-76/

-Sonata in G major, op. 78, mvts. 2, 3, Chang Ji (Mrs. the GCP), violin and Haeri Su, Piano

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It is summer 1876. Brahms is vacationing with his friend George Henschel on the Baltic island or Rügen and finishing work on his first symphony in C minor...

Works heard in this episode (all by Brahms):

Symphony no. 1 in C minor op. 68

Excerpts:

performed by Chang Ji, Mrs. the GCP

- mvt. 1 mm. 1-2, mm. 41, mm. 42-46

- mvt. 4 mm. 1-3, mm. 12-14

...by The GCP House Orchestra...

- mvt. 4 mm. 30-38, mm. 61-78

 

Complete performance by the "Musopen Symphony"

1. Un Poco Sostenuto - Allegro

2. Andante sostenuto

3. Un poco Allegretto e grazioso

4. Adagio. Più andante. Allegro non troppo, ma con brio

https://musopen.org/music/64-symphony-no-1-in-c-minor-op-68/

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It is December 1871 and Johannes Brahms has finally established permanent residence in the music loving city of Vienna. Still, his thoughts remain in Hamburg for a time as his family slowly start to drift away from him...

He himself then drifted for a time, compositionally at least. He would begin his new position as Artistic Director of the Gesellschaft der Musik Freunde in Fall 1872 which made him so busy he hardly had time to compose. Except during the summers, when he would disappear from their sight, as it were, and work on his music. And what incredible music it would be: two string quartets, the Haydn Variations, the third piano quartet, plenty of music for the voice, and very nearly a first symphony. 

Works heard in this episode (all by Brahms):

- String Quartet in C minor op. 51, no. 1

1. Allegro

2. Romanze: Poco adagio

3. Allegretto molto moderato e comodo

4. Allegro

- Variations on a Theme (Said to be) by Joseph Haydn, op. 56a

Theme

Var. 1-3

Var. 4-6

Var. 7, 8

Finale

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I am pleased to be joined during this episode by Alan Walker, celebrated author of biographies of Franz Liszt, Frederick Chopin and others, and acclaimed concert pianist Daniel Vnukowski. We discuss Liszt, Chopin, and Schumann, taking a look at their lives and music from the perspectives of biographer and performer. 

Vnukowski and Dr. Walker present "In the Footsteps of Chopin" on Wednesday June 23rd 7pm Eastern, a free virtual event a part of the Collingwood Music Festival's Summer Solstice Series. You can RSVP to using the link below. See you there!

https://collingwoodfestival.com/event/footsteps-of-chopin/

https://www.danperforms.com

Music heard in this episode, performed by Daniel Vnukowski:

Chopin "Raindrop" Prelude op. 28, no. 15

Chopin Sonata no. 3 in B minor op. 58, mvt. 4 finale

Ep. 43 – It is Good Friday, April 10, 1868 in Bremen and Brahms has just finished giving the premiere of his German Requiem. It is a complete triumph but one not celebrated with wild applause, the work is too grave for that. Instead, attendees of the premiere listened with glad hearts and in reverence, awe really of the work’s creator. Thus, Johannes Brahms became an internationally recognized composer of considerable importance and some measure of celebrity.

Works heard in this episode (all by Brahms):

-Requiem

mvt. 4 "How Lovely is They Dwelling Place"

mvt. 5 "And Ye Now are Sorrowful" 

-Wiegenlied op. 49 no. 4

-Botschaft op. 47 no. 1

-Hungarian dance 1-10

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Ep 42(b) - It is early 1865. Brahms's mother has just passed away. Filled with emotion he grudgingly moves from winter to spring, entering a long period of deep and private mourning during which he would retreat into himself for a time in order to gather his thoughts and energies, and orient them toward a grand act of artistic creation in which he would immortalize his beloved mother and through which his artist soul would be elevated and ennobled and made pure. 

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Works heard in this episode (all by Brahms):

Horn Trio in E-flat mvt. 3 - Adagio Mesto

mvt. 1 - Andante

mvt. 2 - Scherzo (Allegro)

mvt. 4 - Allegro con brio

German Requiem pt. 1 "Blessed are they that Mourn" (In English translation!)