Composer

:

Johannes Brahms

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Waltz

Compose Date

:

1865

Average_duration

:

1:25

Johannes Brahms composed his Waltz for piano, 4 hands in C sharp minor, Op. 39/16 in 1865. The piece was premiered in Vienna in the same year, with Brahms himself playing the second piano part. The Waltz is part of a collection of 16 waltzes for piano, 4 hands, which Brahms originally composed for solo piano. He later arranged them for four hands, and they were published in two sets of eight waltzes each. The Op. 39 set was published in 1866, and the Op. 52 set in 1868. The Waltz in C sharp minor is the sixteenth and final piece in the Op. 39 set. It is a relatively short piece, lasting just over a minute, and is characterized by its melancholic and introspective mood. The waltz is in triple meter, with a moderate tempo, and features a simple, yet elegant melody that is passed between the two pianos. The piece begins with a somber introduction, featuring a descending chromatic line in the bass. The main theme is then introduced, played by the first piano, and is characterized by its descending arpeggios and dotted rhythms. The second piano responds with a variation of the theme, featuring a rising melody and a more playful rhythm. The two pianos then engage in a dialogue, passing the melody back and forth, before the piece comes to a quiet and introspective close. Overall, Brahms' Waltz for piano, 4 hands in C sharp minor, Op. 39/16 is a beautiful and introspective piece, characterized by its melancholic mood and elegant melody. It is a testament to Brahms' skill as a composer, and remains a popular piece in the piano repertoire to this day.

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