Composer

:

Johannes Brahms

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Sonata

Compose Date

:

1864

Average_duration

:

39:49

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

Johannes Brahms composed his Sonata for 2 pianos in F minor, Op. 34b in 1864. The piece was premiered in Vienna on November 16, 1864, with Brahms and his friend, the pianist Julius Epstein, performing. The sonata is a transcription of Brahms' Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34, which he had composed a year earlier. The sonata consists of four movements. The first movement, marked Allegro non troppo, is in sonata form and begins with a dramatic and intense theme played by both pianos. The second theme is more lyrical and is played by the first piano. The development section is characterized by a series of variations on the first theme, and the movement ends with a recapitulation of the main themes. The second movement, marked Andante, is a set of variations on a theme that Brahms had originally composed for a song. The theme is played by the second piano, and the variations explore different moods and textures, ranging from delicate and introspective to grand and majestic. The third movement, marked Scherzo: Allegro, is a lively and playful scherzo in A-flat major. The main theme is introduced by the first piano and is then developed and elaborated upon by both pianos. The trio section is more lyrical and features a beautiful melody played by the second piano. The final movement, marked Finale: Poco sostenuto - Allegro non troppo - Presto, is a rondo in F minor. The main theme is introduced by the first piano and is then developed and varied throughout the movement. The middle section is in F major and features a beautiful melody played by the second piano. The movement ends with a virtuosic coda that brings the sonata to a thrilling conclusion. The Sonata for 2 pianos in F minor, Op. 34b is a masterpiece of Brahms' early period. It showcases his mastery of form, his gift for melody, and his ability to create rich and complex textures with just two pianos. The sonata is characterized by its dramatic intensity, its lyrical beauty, and its virtuosic piano writing. It remains a beloved work in the piano duo repertoire to this day.

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