Piano Sonata No. 1 (Brahms)
Encyclopedia
The Piano Sonata No. 1 in C major, Op. 1 of Johannes Brahms
was written in Hamburg in 1853, and published later that year. Despite being his first published work, he had actually composed his second piano sonata
first, but chose this work to be his first opus because he felt that it was of higher quality. The piece was sent along with his second sonata to Breitkopf und Härtel with a letter of recommendation from Robert Schumann
. Schumann had already praised Brahms enthusiastically, and the sonata shows signs of an effort to impress. It was dedicated to Joseph Joachim
.
The sonata is in four movements:
The first movement is in conventional sonata form
with a repeated exposition. The second movement is a theme and variations inspired by the song Verstohlen geht der Mond auf. Brahms was to rewrite it for female chorus in 1859 (WoO 38/20). The third movement is a scherzo
and trio. The fourth is a loose rondo
whose theme is noticeably changed at every recurrence.
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
was written in Hamburg in 1853, and published later that year. Despite being his first published work, he had actually composed his second piano sonata
Piano Sonata No. 2 (Brahms)
The Piano Sonata No. 2 in F-sharp minor, Op. 2 of Johannes Brahms was written in Hamburg, Germany in 1853, and published the year after. Despite being his second published work, it was actually composed before his first piano sonata, but was published later because Brahms recognized the importance...
first, but chose this work to be his first opus because he felt that it was of higher quality. The piece was sent along with his second sonata to Breitkopf und Härtel with a letter of recommendation from Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, sometimes known as Robert Alexander Schumann, was a German composer, aesthete and influential music critic. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most representative composers of the Romantic era....
. Schumann had already praised Brahms enthusiastically, and the sonata shows signs of an effort to impress. It was dedicated to Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim
Joseph Joachim was a Hungarian violinist, conductor, composer and teacher. A close collaborator of Johannes Brahms, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant violinists of the 19th century.-Origins:...
.
The sonata is in four movements:
- Allegro (C MajorC majorC major is a musical major scale based on C, with pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Its key signature has no flats/sharps.Its relative minor is A minor, and its parallel minor is C minor....
) - Andante (nach einem altdeutschen Minneliede) (C MinorC minorC minor is a minor scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. The harmonic minor raises the B to B. Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with naturals and accidentals as necessary.Its key signature consists of three flats...
, ending in the parallel majorParallel keyIn music, parallel keys are the major and minor scales that have the same tonic. A major and minor scale sharing the same tonic are said to be in a parallel relationship...
) - Allegro molto e con fuoco -- Più mosso (E MinorE minorE minor is a minor scale based on the note E. The E natural minor scale consists of the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. The E harmonic minor scale contains the natural 7, D, rather than the flatted 7, D – to align with the major dominant chord, B7 .Its key signature has one sharp, F .Its...
- C MajorC majorC major is a musical major scale based on C, with pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Its key signature has no flats/sharps.Its relative minor is A minor, and its parallel minor is C minor....
) - Allegro con fuoco -- Presto non troppo ed agitato (C MajorC majorC major is a musical major scale based on C, with pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Its key signature has no flats/sharps.Its relative minor is A minor, and its parallel minor is C minor....
)
The first movement is in conventional sonata form
Sonata form
Sonata form is a large-scale musical structure used widely since the middle of the 18th century . While it is typically used in the first movement of multi-movement pieces, it is sometimes used in subsequent movements as well—particularly the final movement...
with a repeated exposition. The second movement is a theme and variations inspired by the song Verstohlen geht der Mond auf. Brahms was to rewrite it for female chorus in 1859 (WoO 38/20). The third movement is a scherzo
Scherzo
A scherzo is a piece of music, often a movement from a larger piece such as a symphony or a sonata. The scherzo's precise definition has varied over the years, but it often refers to a movement which replaces the minuet as the third movement in a four-movement work, such as a symphony, sonata, or...
and trio. The fourth is a loose rondo
Rondo
Rondo, and its French equivalent rondeau, is a word that has been used in music in a number of ways, most often in reference to a musical form, but also to a character-type that is distinct from the form...
whose theme is noticeably changed at every recurrence.
Text of song
| Verstohlen geht der Mond auf. Blau, blau Blümelein! Durch Silberwölkchen führt sein Lauf. Blau, blau Blümelein! Rosen im Tal, Mädel im Saal, O schönste Rosa! |
Stealthily rises the moon. Blue, blue flower! Through silver cloudlets makes its way. Blue, blue flower! Roses in the dale, Maiden in the hall, O handsomest Rosa! |
External links
- Full text of Verstohlen geht der Mond auf
- Full text with translation
- Detailed listening guide using a recording by Martin Jones