Johannes Brahms Parody

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Two Rhapsodies, Op.79 – Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms, (1833-1897) was a leading German composer and pianist of the Romantic period, who composed in almost every genre except the opera. Brahms, as a composer, was also well-known in his expertise on manipulating rhythm and movement. Brahms’ works features a great variety of emotion from amusement to sorrow. The unique texture of every Brahms’ works which he modelled from what he learned in the polyphonic school in the 16th century also differed from his contemporaries. Besides that, Brahms was also an expertise in miniature in his solo piano works. The late piano music of Brahms normally features a small facet of form but in wide emotions which is usually characterized of a quiet but intense quality before going to the outburst of passion.
Johannes Brahms composed the two renowned Rhapsodies, op.79 in 1879 when he reached his maturity of his career during his summer vacation in Portschach. Elisabeth von Herzogenberg, a best friend of Brahms mentioned to Brahms that G minor was her best-loved key, so Brahms specially dedicated these two rhapsodies to her. The first rhapsody in B minor is in the scherzo form while the second Rhapsody in G minor, is written in ABA form with a darkly dramatic and tragic mode. This approximately six-minute work foreshadows a proud mode of larger-scale …show more content…

Brahms marked this work as, in an agitated mood. In the A section, there are some virtuoso parallel octaves and several thick chords which create the outburst energy effect. There are also overlapping between both hands based on a motive and parallel movement in scalic passages to create an atmosphere towards the climax. In the B section, there are much more lyrical and sweet melody to create a subtle atmosphere. The return of A section where Brahms surprisingly didn’t end it aggresively and with agitation, but with a more delightful and calm arpeggiated

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