Johannes BRAHMS Four Hand Piano Music Vol. 13 (Matthies, Kohn) (CD) 2007

Description: Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Like new! I'll admit it: I want this series to go on forever. I know it won't but I haven't had the heart to check the Grove Dictionary or Jan Swafford's Brahms biography to see how many more four-hand arrangements Brahms made of his own orchestral compositions that this sterling piano duo hasn't yet recorded. Thirteen discs so far! And this one contains arrangements of two of my all-time favorite Brahms compositions, the two String Sextets, Opp. 18 and 36. What marvelous music this is. And how marvelously they sound as piano duets. By now, we know that Matthies and Köhn are spectacularly good at Brahms and this disc is no exception. Even for someone who knows and loves the Sextets in their original garb, it takes only a few seconds to be seduced by their recasting as piano duets. I thought, in Op. 18's first moments, that I would be disappointed not to hear the dark lower strings intoning that glorious melody, but after about two nano-seconds I didn't miss the celli and violas at all. To be honest I have only one very minor quibble with these performances: I think they take the tempo of Op. 18's Rondo (4th movement) just a tad too fast. Other than that I can't think of a single criticism. And I'm pretty picky about my Brahms. As for high points, and there are many--and to pick a couple of the subtle ones--just listen to the wistful, spare Adagio of the Second Sextet or the delicate beginning of that sextet's second movement, the fugato that ensues with Matthies-Köhn delineating the threads of polyphony so subtly, and then the outburst of Gypsy music. – J. Scott Morrison Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form We are currently offering many classical music CDs from a private collector. This collection includes many RARE offerings - all in like new condition. Please check out our other auctions. Combined orders save on shipping.

Price: 9.99 USD

Location: Prairie Village, Kansas

End Time: 2024-09-08T23:37:10.000Z

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