SKU: BR.EB-9441

ISBN 9790004189184. 9 x 12 inches.

The two sonatas of Johannes Brahms's op. 120 are widely hailed as crowning points of the repertoire for clarinet and piano. Moreover, in the version for viola and piano arranged by Brahms himself, they rank among the most frequently played viola works of the 19th century. They far surpass in compositional substance the relatively few original sonatas written for these instrumentations during the same period.Of the two fellow works, the Sonata No. 2 in E flat major is the more accessible. Diverging from the classical-romantic tradition, Brahms used the key of E flat major here not to express the heroic or monumental, but to obtain lyrical, chiefly restrained characterizations. The serenade-like beauty of the principal theme, which opens the sonata, has always been particularly admired. In his review of the world premiere, the renowned Viennese music critic Eduard Hanslick, a friend of Brahms's, raves with the words it was as if it had fallen from the Heavens. The closing set of variations also follows with gentle gracefulness this lyrical character. However, the middle movement, with its tempestuous outer sections in E flat minor and the hymnic trio in B major provides a passionate and serious contrast, which allows the flanking idyll to unfold its beauties all the more insistently.

SKU: HL.49018407

ISBN 9790001175678. UPC: 841886016385. 9.0x12.0x0.067 inches.

A 'Last Night of the Proms' without this march - unthinkable! 'Pomp and Circumstance Military March No. 1' with its middle section, the hymn-like 'Land of Hope and Glory' by Edward Elgar (1857-1934), belongs to the finale of the London music event like the Radetzky March usually played as last piece to the New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The fame and popularity of the other four military marches composed by Elgar between 1901 and 1907 fade in comparison to this secret national anthem of Great Britain (although strongly rivalled by 'Rule, Britannia!'). It is, indeed, an equally rousing and catchy piece of music, and the catchy tune in the middle has just become a classical 'hit'. Thanks to the present edition, all those who do not have a large symphony orchestra at home can now play this rousing march by themselves.