Brahms: Intermezzi, Ballade, Romance, Op. 118: Piano
By Johannes Brahms / ed. Sauer
Level: Intermediate / Advanced
Item: 00-PK-0002968
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Description
The piano works of Johannes Brahms, Opus 118, in this collection include: No. 1, Intermezzo * No. 2, Intermezzo * No. 3, Ballade * No. 4, Intermezzo * No. 5, Romance * No. 6, Intermezzo.
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Additional Details
Series:
Kalmus Edition
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
24
SKU:
00-PK-0002968
More about this title
About the Composer: Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms (1833, 1897) stands as one of the great synthesizers of Romantic music, a composer who honored the forms and rigor of the Classical tradition while infusing them with the expressive depth of his era. His late piano works, written after decades of symphonic and chamber music composition, represent a distillation of his craft: intimate, introspective, and formally sophisticated. These pieces emerged from a master who had nothing left to prove, writing for himself and a small circle of artists who understood the weight of a single gesture.
Why we love this
Brahms' Opus 118 delivers six contrasting character pieces that reward serious pianists without demanding virtuosic fireworks. The collection balances intimacy with structural sophistication, offering repertoire that challenges musical maturity and interpretive sensitivity rather than technical showiness. Each piece stands alone as a complete artistic statement, making this set ideal for recital programming or study of late-Romantic piano literature.
What to expect
These six pieces inhabit a world of subtle introspection and harmonic exploration. Lyrical melodies surface over rippling accompaniments and surprising chord progressions, while the Ballade and Romance provide moments of ardent expression before returning to reflective intimacy. The overall impression is one of an artist thinking aloud at the keyboard, moving between reverie, passion, and quiet contemplation.
Who it's for
Intermediate to advanced pianists seeking substantial solo repertoire beyond the standard Romantic canon. Students preparing for recitals, competitions, or graduate auditions will find these pieces both musically fulfilling and pedagogically rich.
How to get the most out of it
- Attend to Brahms' specific dynamic markings and tempo indications; his notation is economical but precise, and respecting these details reveals his harmonic intentions.
- Balance the independence of voices across both hands, particularly in passages where the texture thickens; resist the urge to blur with the pedal.
- Shape phrases with subtle rubato that reflects the harmonic rhythm rather than external phrasing; Brahms' melodies often follow unexpected harmonic progressions.
- Distinguish character between the four Intermezzos through tempo choice and articulation; each explores different emotional territory despite the shared form.
How to use it
Program one or two pieces as a standalone group to represent late-Romantic solo piano literature, or spread them across a recital for variety and contrast. The Ballade and Romance work especially well as centerpieces framing other works, while the Intermezzos suit opening or closing a program with introspection.
Skills your students will build
- voice leading and counterpoint within Romantic harmonic language
- rubato and phrasing over irregular harmonic progressions
- pedal technique for harmonic color without blurring independence of voices
- interpretation of subtle dynamic and tempo markings
- form recognition and structural coherence in character piece writing