Description
From the sixteen waltzes Brahms wrote in 1865 as Op. 39, this is No. 10: rated beginner, yet full of the dance's lilt. The set was composed for piano duet and, after its success, the composer prepared a solo version himself. It dates from shortly after the north German composer settled in Vienna, and belongs to his answer to that city's dances.
In G major and triple time, it is among the shortest of the sixteen, over in under forty seconds. The melody proceeds concisely in eight-bar units over clear harmony. With around 450 notes and, like the famous fifteenth, no ornamental or modulating devices, the writing is entirely plain.
As the beginner rating suggests, the technical demands are light. The work is the weight of the waltz: three even beats produce no waltz at all. Put the weight on the first beat and give the second and third back lightly. Bass notes light, chords lighter still. Bring the top voice of the melody one level forward and the piece is done.
Sixteen waltzes Brahms composed in 1865 and dedicated to Hanslick, combining Viennese waltz elegance with his own characteristic depth.
Browse all songs in 16 Waltzes Op.39 →Sheet Music
Sheet music provided by Mutopia Project
About the Composer
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Johannes Brahms was a composer born in Hamburg who rose to prominence after being championed by Robert and Clara Schumann, later settling in Vienna. He fused classical formal rigor with Romantic expressiveness across symphonies and chamber music, and in his later years wrote many introspective piano miniatures. This site includes the Intermezzo, Op. 118, No. 2, and two waltzes from Op. 39.
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