Piano Concerto No. 2 (Brahms)

Introduction

Piano concerto by Brahms The Piano Concerto No.

2 in B major, Op.

83, by Johannes Brahms is separated by a gap of 22 years from his first piano concerto.83, by Johannes Brahms is separated by a gap of 22 years from his first piano concerto.

Brahms began work on the piece in 1878 and completed it in 1881 while in Pressbaum near Vienna.Brahms began work on the piece in 1878 and completed it in 1881 while in Pressbaum near Vienna.

It took him three years to work on this concerto, which indicates that he was always self critical.It took him three years to work on this concerto, which indicates that he was always self critical.

He wrote to Clara Schumann: "I want to tell you that I have written a very small piano concerto with a very small and pretty scherzo."He wrote to Clara Schumann: "I want to tell you that I have written a very small piano concerto with a very small and pretty scherzo."

Ironically, he was describing a huge piece.Ironically, he was describing a huge piece.

This concerto is dedicated to his teacher, Eduard Marxsen.This concerto is dedicated to his teacher, Eduard Marxsen.

The public premiere of the concerto was given in Budapest on 9 November 1881, with Brahms as soloist and the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, and was an immediate success.The public premiere of the concerto was given in Budapest on 9 November 1881, with Brahms as soloist and the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, and was an immediate success.

The piece is scored for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (B), 2 bassoons, 4 horns (initially 2 in B bass, 2 in F), 2 trumpets (B), timpani (B and F, A and D in second movement) and strings.The piece is scored for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (B), 2 bassoons, 4 horns (initially 2 in B bass, 2 in F), 2 trumpets (B), timpani (B and F, A and D in second movement) and strings.

(The trumpets and timpani are used only in the first two movements, which is unusual.)(The trumpets and timpani are used only in the first two movements, which is unusual.)

The autograph manuscript of the concerto is preserved in the Hamburg State and University Library Carl von Ossietzky.The autograph manuscript of the concerto is preserved in the Hamburg State and University Library Carl von Ossietzky.

Allegro non troppo

The first movement is in the concerto variant of sonata form.The first movement is in the concerto variant of sonata form.

The main theme is introduced by the horn solo, with the piano interceding.The main theme is introduced by the horn solo, with the piano interceding.

The woodwind instruments proceed to introduce a small motif (borrowed, perhaps unconsciously, from the opening of the first movement of his Serenade No.The woodwind instruments proceed to introduce a small motif (borrowed, perhaps unconsciously, from the opening of the first movement of his Serenade No.

2) before an unusually placed cadenza appears.2) before an unusually placed cadenza appears.

The full orchestra repeats the theme and introduces more motifs in the orchestral exposition.The full orchestra repeats the theme and introduces more motifs in the orchestral exposition.

The piano and orchestra work together to develop these themes in the piano exposition before the key changes to F minor (from F major, the dominant) and the piano plays a powerful and difficult section before the next orchestral tutti appears.The piano and orchestra work together to develop these themes in the piano exposition before the key changes to F minor (from F major, the dominant) and the piano plays a powerful and difficult section before the next orchestral tutti appears.

The development, like many such sections in the Classical period, works its way from the dominant key back to the tonic while heavily developing themes.The development, like many such sections in the Classical period, works its way from the dominant key back to the tonic while heavily developing themes.

At the beginning of the recapitulation, the theme is replayed before a differing transition is heard, returning to the music heard in the piano exposition (this time in B major/minor).At the beginning of the recapitulation, the theme is replayed before a differing transition is heard, returning to the music heard in the piano exposition (this time in B major/minor).

A coda appears after the minor key section, finishing off this movement.A coda appears after the minor key section, finishing off this movement.

One motif repeated in the development has been noted by musicologists as bearing similarity to Battle Hymn of the Republic and Say, Brothers, but it is unlikely Brahms knew of either hymn.One motif repeated in the development has been noted by musicologists as bearing similarity to Battle Hymn of the Republic and Say, Brothers, but it is unlikely Brahms knew of either hymn.

Allegro appassionato

This scherzo is in the key of D minor and is in sonata form with a trio inserted in the development.This scherzo is in the key of D minor and is in sonata form with a trio inserted in the development.

Contrary to Brahms' "tiny wisp of a scherzo" remark, it is a tumultuous movement.Contrary to Brahms' "tiny wisp of a scherzo" remark, it is a tumultuous movement.

The piano and orchestra introduce the theme and develop it before a quiet section intervenes.The piano and orchestra introduce the theme and develop it before a quiet section intervenes.

Soon afterwards the piano and orchestra launch into a stormy development of the theme before coming to the central episode (in D major).Soon afterwards the piano and orchestra launch into a stormy development of the theme before coming to the central episode (in D major).

The central episode is brisk and begins with the full orchestra before yet another quiet section intervenes; then the piano is integrated into the orchestral effect to repeat the theme of the central episode.The central episode is brisk and begins with the full orchestra before yet another quiet section intervenes; then the piano is integrated into the orchestral effect to repeat the theme of the central episode.

The beginning section returns but is highly varied.The beginning section returns but is highly varied.

Andante

The slow movement is in the tonic key of B major and is unusual in utilizing an extensive cello solo within a piano concerto (the source of this idea may be Clara Schumann's Piano Concerto, which features a slow movement scored only for cello and piano).The slow movement is in the tonic key of B major and is unusual in utilizing an extensive cello solo within a piano concerto (the source of this idea may be Clara Schumann's Piano Concerto, which features a slow movement scored only for cello and piano).

Brahms subsequently rewrote the cello's theme and changed it into a song, Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer ("My Slumber Grows Ever More Peaceful") with lyrics by Hermann Lingg.Brahms subsequently rewrote the cello's theme and changed it into a song, Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer ("My Slumber Grows Ever More Peaceful") with lyrics by Hermann Lingg.

(Op.

105, No. 2).

Within the concerto, the cello plays the theme for the first three minutes, before the piano comes in.Within the concerto, the cello plays the theme for the first three minutes, before the piano comes in.

However, the gentler melodic piece that the piano plays soon gives way to a stormy theme in B minor.However, the gentler melodic piece that the piano plays soon gives way to a stormy theme in B minor.

When the storm subsides, still in the minor key, the piano plays a transitional motif that leads to the key of F major, before the cello comes in to reprise, in the wrong key, and knowing that it has to get back to B major, the piano and the orchestra make a brief transition to E major before finishing off the theme in its original home key of B major.When the storm subsides, still in the minor key, the piano plays a transitional motif that leads to the key of F major, before the cello comes in to reprise, in the wrong key, and knowing that it has to get back to B major, the piano and the orchestra make a brief transition to E major before finishing off the theme in its original home key of B major.

After the piano plays the transitional motifs, the piano quickly reprises the middle section before the final coda is established.After the piano plays the transitional motifs, the piano quickly reprises the middle section before the final coda is established.

Allegretto grazioso—Un poco più presto

The last movement consists of five clearly distinguishable sections, which introduce and develop five different themes.The last movement consists of five clearly distinguishable sections, which introduce and develop five different themes.

The first section (bars 1 to 64) presents themes 1 and 2.The first section (bars 1 to 64) presents themes 1 and 2.

The first theme (also the "main theme") (1–8) is first played by the piano and then repeated by the orchestra.The first theme (also the "main theme") (1–8) is first played by the piano and then repeated by the orchestra.

The second theme (16–20) is likewise presented by the piano and repeated – and expanded – by the orchestra.The second theme (16–20) is likewise presented by the piano and repeated – and expanded – by the orchestra.

Finally, a kind of development of the first theme leads on to the next section.Finally, a kind of development of the first theme leads on to the next section.

The second section (65–164) contains the next three themes.The second section (65–164) contains the next three themes.

Theme 3 (65–73) is very different from the previous ones, due largely to its minor setting and its distinctive, Hungarian rhythm.Theme 3 (65–73) is very different from the previous ones, due largely to its minor setting and its distinctive, Hungarian rhythm.

Theme 4 (81–88) is still in a minor and theme 5 (97–104) is in F major.Theme 4 (81–88) is still in a minor and theme 5 (97–104) is in F major.

These three themes are each repeated back and forth several times, which gives the section the character of a development.These three themes are each repeated back and forth several times, which gives the section the character of a development.

The third section (165–308) can be seen as a reprise of the first; it is built on the first two themes, but a striking new element is given in 201–205 and repeated in 238–241.The third section (165–308) can be seen as a reprise of the first; it is built on the first two themes, but a striking new element is given in 201–205 and repeated in 238–241.

The fourth section (309–376) reprises themes 3, 5 and 4, in that order.The fourth section (309–376) reprises themes 3, 5 and 4, in that order.

The final section, the coda, is built on the main theme, but even here (398) Brahms presents a new element, restating the main theme in triple rhythm (a device he used earlier to end his violin concerto) over a little march, first played by the piano, then answered by the orchestra, which trades themes with the soloist before the final chords.The final section, the coda, is built on the main theme, but even here (398) Brahms presents a new element, restating the main theme in triple rhythm (a device he used earlier to end his violin concerto) over a little march, first played by the piano, then answered by the orchestra, which trades themes with the soloist before the final chords.