BRAHMS' VIOLIN and PIANO SONATAS
Played by WILLIAM PRIMROSE (Violin) and VICTOR HELY-HUTCHINSON (Pianoforte) Sonata in G (Op. 78), First Movement
THE three Sonatas by Brahms for Violin and Piano are all mature works, the first
(Opus 78) not appearing until after his first two symphonies (1876-8).
Each has its individual beauty, and all three are well contrasted and highly original.
It is notable that in them Brahms was one of the first composers to pay special attention to the principle that the material should be well suited to each of those widely different instruments, the Violin and the Piano.
The First Sonata (the one that made for
Brahms many of his best frierds) is in three Movements only, of which the First is fairly lively, but also thoughtful, perhaps at moments wistful.