Played by Frank Mannheimer

Sonata in C, Op. 1
1. Allegro; 2. Andante; 3. Scherzo: Allegro molto e con fuoco
Throughout his life Brahms composed music for the pianoforte, particularly in the very early period and again towards the end of his career. Between the music written at these two periods there is a wide difference. It was said at one time that the one fault of Brahms' pianoforte works was that they were not piano music. In those days he thought in terms of the orchestra even when he was composing for the piano, but his later works, particularly the series from opus 116 to opus 119, are amongst the finest pianoforte music in the repertory. It would almost seem that until he had exhausted his obsession for orchestral treatment the true technique and quality of the pianoforte escaped him.