Sonata No. 2 in A-flat Major, Opus 120 Cover Image

Sonata No. 2 in A-flat Major, Opus 120: Viola Parts

$9.95 USD

Sonata No. 2 in A-flat Major, Opus 120: Viola Parts

Name: Sonata No. 2 in A-flat Major, Opus 120: Viola Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 00-K09255
Price: 9.95 USD
Availability: InStock

By Johannes Brahms

Item: 00-K09255

$9.95

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Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Sonata No. 2 in A-flat Major, Opus 120: Viola Parts comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.

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Series: Kalmus Edition

Publisher: Alfred Music

Page Count: 36

UPC: 029156666717

SKU: 00-K09255

More about this title

About the Creator: Johannes Brahms

Johannes Brahms composed his Sonata No. 2 in A-flat Major, Op. 120, late in his career, during a period of remarkable creative focus on chamber music. Written for clarinet and piano, this work stands among the most lyrical and introspective pieces in the clarinet repertoire, showcasing Brahms's gift for spinning long, singing lines over richly harmonic accompaniment.

The sonata reflects the composer's deep affection for the clarinet's warm registers and his friendship with clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld, to whom the work is dedicated. Brahms had previously written his Clarinet Trio and Clarinet Quintet for Mühlfeld, making Op. 120 the culmination of a collaborative relationship that elevated the clarinet's voice in the concert hall.

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Why we love this

This is the sonata serious musicians turn to when they want to develop maturity and phrasing at the highest level. The writing sits naturally on the clarinet while demanding genuine interpretive sophistication; there's no wasted gesture, and every phrase rewards thoughtful shaping.

What to expect

Intimate without being small, lyrical without sentimentality. The work unfolds like a conversation between friends who know each other well enough to leave things unsaid. Brahms's harmonic language creates moments of unexpected warmth and depth, with the clarinet often singing over gently shifting accompaniment that never settles into predictability.

Who it's for

Advanced high school clarinetists preparing for college auditions, college students building their chamber music foundation, and mature amateurs who have the technique to step into genuine Romantic-era masterworks. This sonata signals serious musical intent.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the opening statement without rushing; Brahms's long lines ask for breath control and legit singing tone rather than virtuosic display.
Balance the relationship between soloist and accompaniment carefully. The piano part is never subordinate, and ignoring it will flatten the harmonic conversation.
Let the chromatic voice-leading speak. Brahms uses passing tones and suspensions with intention; clarity in this writing reveals the architecture underneath.
Honor the rests and moments of silence. They're structural, not accidental, and they give the ear room to process the harmonic richness.

How to use it

This belongs in a solo recital or chamber concert where it can anchor the second half, positioned after lighter fare to show range and maturity. It also serves as a benchmark piece in studio teaching when a student is ready to understand how Romantic harmonic thinking translates to phrasing decisions.