Description
Originally composed for piano four hands and later arranged for solo piano, partly by Brahms himself, this set of 21 dances draws heavily on Hungarian and Gypsy musical idioms. Sudden tempo changes and passionate surges of energy give the set its distinctive folk character. Among Brahms's works, these dances remain some of his most accessible and frequently performed pieces. Compiled in 1869, the set runs about forty-seven minutes and totals over 41,000 notes, a substantial collection related to the waltz tradition of dance music. Sustaining its folk-infused energy across all 21 dances demands real stamina at an advanced level.
Waltzes in elegant triple time, including Chopin's concert waltzes alongside works by a range of other composers.
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 25 of his works, such as intermezzi, waltzes, and ballades.
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