Brahms best works

The history of art and music is vast and full of characters who have populated the classical repertoire with works of great mastery. It is common for us to hear the names of these people but sometimes we have not investigated enough to know them and appreciate their contribution to art. This may be the case of Johannes Brahms, who is popularly known for the famous lullaby that we have all surely heard. In this Article you will get to know 10 of the best works of Brahms and you will have an approach to the genius of this composer from the Romantic period.

Brief biography of Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897)

Brahms was born in Germany in the 19th century, during the Romantic period and was a virtuoso pianist and conductor, as well as a composer. He spent most of his life in Vienna and his great ability as a composer is recognized to the point of being grouped with Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven. It is the group of these 3 composers that is called "The 3 B's of music" (Bach, Beethoven and Brahms).

He composed a wide variety of works including symphonies, chamber music, pieces for piano, organ, voice and choir. Brahms was a perfectionist and only some of his works are said to have been published, as he himself destroyed those with which he was dissatisfied.

Brahms is recognized for having a balance between conservative and innovative, with meticulous structure and romantic motifs. His compositions are, nowadays, an essential part of the classical repertoire. In this other lesson we discover other of the main composers of Romanticism or.

The 10 best works of Brahms

To better understand the cultural and artistic legacy of this composer, we are going to discover the 10 best works of Brahms. Here you have a selection that will make you know the best of this prodigious musician.

Piano Sonata No.3 in F minor, Op.5 (1853)

It is Brahms' last piano sonata, composed when he was 20 in gratitude to Countess Ida von Hohenthai, who got a job as a music teacher for his brother Fritz Brahms. The sonata achieves an elegant mix between the romantic spirit and classical structure, showing a clear Beethoven influence, specifically in reference to his fifth symphony.

Piano Quartet No.2, Op.26 (1861)

Written for piano, violin, viola and cello. This work is an amalgam between concert for piano and chamber music, of which the slow tempo movement stands out in genius. With a duration of approximately 50 min, it is Brahms' longest chamber work. The composer also made an arrangement of this work for a piano duet.

French Horn Trio (1865)

Composed for horn (French horn), violin and piano. It is considered one of the best works written for the horn, making masterful use of the qualities of the horn, where Brahms demonstrates his deep understanding of the instrument. The work is a commemorative piece for Brahms' mother, who died earlier that year.

Die Mainacht (1868)

Another of Brahms' best works is this piece which is translated as "May night". It is a lieder (German song) that has a theme inspired by the moon on a May night. The beautiful landscape refers to someone who has been lost. It is a sensitive work of simple melody that gradually develops into drama.

Liebeslieder waltzes, Op. 52 (1868)

It translates as "love songs". They are a series of waltzes with a total of 18 movements, for four-handed piano and voices in the Länder style (an Austrian and German folk genre). The inspiration for this work is said to be largely due to Brahms' love for Clara Schumann (Robert Schumann's wife), a romance that never flourished.

Symphony No.1 (1876)

This is another of Brahms' best works, hands down. It is a majestic and mysterious work of which the fourth movement stands out. Some describe this symphony as dark, mystical, and complex. In this work you can notice Beethoven's influence on Brahms and the reminiscence of German folklore.

Sonata for cello in F major, Op.99 (1886)

It is a work described as dynamic, heroic, imaginative and modern. Brahms wrote this work long after completing his first sonata, 20 years later to be precise. The work is written for cello and piano, and its structure has four movements: Allegro, adagio affetuoso, allegro passionato and rondo.

Violin Sonata No.3 in D minor, Op. 108 (1887)

A work dedicated to a friend of Brahms. It highlights the fact that it is made up of 4 movements that fluctuate in expressiveness, in contrast to its previous violin sonatas that only contain 3 movements. Its structure: Allegro, adagio, a little ready and with feeling and ready agitato.

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Quintet for clarinet in B minor, Op. 115 (1891)

It has a masterful development that allows us to perceive this work as a journey from start to finish. Dramatic in tone, it is described as a nostalgic and melancholic work of retrospection and farewell. It consists of four movements and lasts approximately 35 minutes.

Sonata for viola No.2 in E flat major, Op.120 (1894)

This sonata was originally written for clarinet, but Brahms later adapted it to play the viola, since the instruments have a very similar register, varying only in the techniques used.

Remember that these are just some of the works of Brahms and although they are a good point to start getting to know this composer, there are many other wonderful options to discover.

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