Day 335: Variations: On an Original Theme, On a Hungarian Song, On a Theme by Schumann

BrahmsCD29This is wonderful music.

Instant Favorite status.

These variations are in turns contemplative, clever, and dramatic…full of pathos and verve. In short, these piano variations sound like life itself.

These are some of the most honest compositions I’ve heard from Brahms. Very little pretense here. This is music for the sake of music.

This CD would make perfect background music for writing.

Here’s what I listened to today:

Variations on an Original Theme in D Op. 21 No. 1

According to the IMSLP web site, these variations were composed in 1857. If that is true, Brahms was 24.

Variations on a Hungarian Song in D Op. 21 No. 2

According to the IMSLP web site, these variations may have been composed somewhere between 1853 and 1856, which means Brahms was between 20 and 23.

Variations on a Theme by Schumann in F sharp minor Op. 9

According to the IMSLP web site, these variations were composed in 1854. Brahms was 21.

Here’s who played all 43 short tracks:

Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy piano