DavidMahler
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2007
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I don't talk so much about Brahms on Head-Fi, but he's easily my second favorite composer (sometimes my favorite) and I wanted to promote a series that I think is fantastic. It's the Brahms for Four handed piano on Naxos performed by Silke-Thora Matthies and Christian Kohn.
These are extremely revelatory recordings as we hear Brahms music in a piano setting rather than their actual orchestrations. They've recorded 17 CDs of Brahms own transcriptions for four hands. Most of his chamber works, all four symphonies, both piano concertos, and even the German Requiem are amongst those that are released.
While probably none of them sound better in this setting, they sound equally interesting and in many cases more analytical. The pianists are excellent. I recommend trying the CD of Symphonies 3 and 4 (volume 15) for starters. You'll be amazed how these symphonies sound on piano.
Remember this how much of the public became familiarized with Brahms' music in their own home, as the average joe didn't make it to too many concerts in Brahms' own lifetime. These transcriptions are 100% by Brahms.
Have fun
Dave
These are extremely revelatory recordings as we hear Brahms music in a piano setting rather than their actual orchestrations. They've recorded 17 CDs of Brahms own transcriptions for four hands. Most of his chamber works, all four symphonies, both piano concertos, and even the German Requiem are amongst those that are released.
While probably none of them sound better in this setting, they sound equally interesting and in many cases more analytical. The pianists are excellent. I recommend trying the CD of Symphonies 3 and 4 (volume 15) for starters. You'll be amazed how these symphonies sound on piano.
Remember this how much of the public became familiarized with Brahms' music in their own home, as the average joe didn't make it to too many concerts in Brahms' own lifetime. These transcriptions are 100% by Brahms.
Have fun
Dave
