Sixteen Waltzes (German; Sechzehn Walzer), Op. 39, is a set of 16 short waltzes for piano written by Johannes Brahms. They were composed in 1865, and published in 1866, dedicated to the music critic Eduard Hanslick.[1]
These waltzes were written for piano four hands, and were also arranged for piano solo by the composer, in two different versions – difficult and simplified. The three versions were published at the same time, and sold well, contrary to the composer's expectations.
The waltzes were written while the composer lived in Vienna, a city where he would permanently settle in 1872.[2] They were intended as a tribute to the waltz dance form which had become especially fashionable in his adopted city.[2]
Characteristicsedit
In the solo versions, some of the keys were altered from the original duet version (the last four in the difficult version and No. 6 in the easy version). Waltz Number 15 in A major (or A♭) has acquired a life of its own, as likely the most popular piece in the collection. An arrangement of five of the waltzes (Nos. 1, 2, 11, 14, and 15) for two pianos, four hands was published after the composer's death.
Almost all of the waltzes are in a recapitulating binary form. For each waltz, the first half moves to the dominant, the relative major, or a substitute key. Then, the second half begins with a developmental passage that leads back to the main theme and the tonic.[2]
In 1984, critic Edward Rothstein said that Joseph Smith "made a compelling case for taking them seriously as a unified cycle."[3]
No. 13 in C major (B major in the more difficult solo version) (0:48)
No. 14 in A minor (G♯ minor in the more difficult solo version and the two-piano version) (1:34)
No. 15 in A major (A♭ major in the more difficult solo version and the two-piano version) (1:28)
No. 16 in D minor (C♯ minor in the more difficult solo version) (1:01)
Referencesedit
^Palmer, John. "Waltzes for piano, four hands, Op. 39 (1865)" in All Music Guide to Classical Music: The Definitive Guide to Classical Music, p. 201 (Chris Woodstra, Gerald Brennan, and Allen Schrott eds., Backbeat Books, 2005, ISBN9780879308650. Also available at Sixteen Waltzes, Op. 39 at AllMusic
^ abcTodd, R. Larry. Nineteenth-Century Piano Music, p. 372 (Routledge, 2013)
^Edward Rothstein, "Music: Joseph Smith", The New York Times, March 29, 1984, p. C28
Bibliographyedit
Winfried Kirsch, Die Klavierwalzer op. 39 von Johannes Brahms und ihre Tradition. In "Jahrbuch des Staatlichen Institut für Musikforschung, Preußischer Kulturbesitz". II, 1969.
Marina Caracciolo, Brahms e il Walzer. Storia e lettura critica. LIM, Libreria Musicale Italiana, Lucca, 2004. ISBN978-88-7096-362-5
Ignaz Mendelssohn, in Zur Entwicklung des Walzers, "Studien zur Musikwissenschaft"; XIV (1926).
Eduard Hanslick, Waffenruhe am Klavier, Neue freie Presse, Wien, August 1866.
sixteen, waltzes, brahms, sixteen, waltzes, german, sechzehn, walzer, short, waltzes, piano, written, johannes, brahms, they, were, composed, 1865, published, 1866, dedicated, music, critic, eduard, hanslick, sixteen, waltzespiano, music, johannes, brahmsthe, . Sixteen Waltzes German Sechzehn Walzer Op 39 is a set of 16 short waltzes for piano written by Johannes Brahms They were composed in 1865 and published in 1866 dedicated to the music critic Eduard Hanslick 1 Sixteen WaltzesPiano music by Johannes BrahmsThe composer c 1872Native nameSechzehn WalzerOpus39Composed1865 1865 DedicationEduard HanslickPublished1866 1866 Scoringpiano four handspiano Contents 1 Background 2 Characteristics 3 Waltzes 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksBackground editThese waltzes were written for piano four hands and were also arranged for piano solo by the composer in two different versions difficult and simplified The three versions were published at the same time and sold well contrary to the composer s expectations The waltzes were written while the composer lived in Vienna a city where he would permanently settle in 1872 2 They were intended as a tribute to the waltz dance form which had become especially fashionable in his adopted city 2 Characteristics editIn the solo versions some of the keys were altered from the original duet version the last four in the difficult version and No 6 in the easy version Waltz Number 15 in A major or A has acquired a life of its own as likely the most popular piece in the collection An arrangement of five of the waltzes Nos 1 2 11 14 and 15 for two pianos four hands was published after the composer s death Almost all of the waltzes are in a recapitulating binary form For each waltz the first half moves to the dominant the relative major or a substitute key Then the second half begins with a developmental passage that leads back to the main theme and the tonic 2 In 1984 critic Edward Rothstein said that Joseph Smith made a compelling case for taking them seriously as a unified cycle 3 Waltzes editThe 16 waltzes listed here are played by Martha Goldstein No 1 in B major Tempo giusto 1 02 source source No 2 in E major 1 32 source source No 3 in G minor 1 02 source source No 4 in E minor Poco sostenuto 1 35 source source No 5 in E major Grazioso 1 10 source source No 6 in C major Vivace C major in the easy solo version 1 07 source source No 7 in C minor Poco piu Andante 2 12 source source No 8 in B major 1 40 source source No 9 in D minor 1 26 source source No 10 in G major 0 32 source source No 11 in B minor 1 28 source source No 12 in E major 1 20 source source No 13 in C major B major in the more difficult solo version 0 48 source source No 14 in A minor G minor in the more difficult solo versionand the two piano version 1 34 source source No 15 in A major A major in the more difficult solo versionand the two piano version 1 28 source source No 16 in D minor C minor in the more difficult solo version 1 01 source source References edit Palmer John Waltzes for piano four hands Op 39 1865 in All Music Guide to Classical Music The Definitive Guide to Classical Music p 201 Chris Woodstra Gerald Brennan and Allen Schrott eds Backbeat Books 2005 ISBN 9780879308650 Also available at Sixteen Waltzes Op 39 at AllMusic a b c Todd R Larry Nineteenth Century Piano Music p 372 Routledge 2013 Edward Rothstein Music Joseph Smith The New York Times March 29 1984 p C28Bibliography editWinfried Kirsch Die Klavierwalzer op 39 von Johannes Brahms und ihre Tradition In Jahrbuch des Staatlichen Institut fur Musikforschung Preussischer Kulturbesitz II 1969 Marina Caracciolo Brahms e il Walzer Storia e lettura critica LIM Libreria Musicale Italiana Lucca 2004 ISBN 978 88 7096 362 5 Ignaz Mendelssohn in Zur Entwicklung des Walzers Studien zur Musikwissenschaft XIV 1926 Eduard Hanslick Waffenruhe am Klavier Neue freie Presse Wien August 1866 External links editSixteen Waltzes for Piano four hands Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Listening guide for all four versions of the waltzes Portal nbsp Classical Music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sixteen Waltzes Op 39 Brahms amp oldid 1211966098, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
