Glad to see this series back. Apropos of your comment toward the end of the video, I can attest to how special it is to experience great chamber music in the appropriate setting. A girl I was dating in Fort Myers years back invited me to a private performance given by members of the local community Orchestra in their home of Brahms’ Second Piano Quartet, which I had never heard before. I recall the heroic power of that first movement was as impactful as that of a great symphony.
So glad to see the return of this great series - long may it continue! Totally agreed - Brahms’ sextets show him at his most approachable, melodious, and inventive. As a cellist, I appreciate how he gives a lot of his most inspired melodies to the cello!
I’ve had this very CD for decades now, and it’s a perennial favorite. When Dave mentioned the melody, I smiled and nodded, because I knew EXACTLY what he was referring to. Seriously, you should get this Naxos CD.
I was missing this series. Very lovely melody indeed. That was one of Brahms's specialties, actually. Another melody of his I find quite endearing is the Trio section of the Scherzo of his Piano Trio No. 1. Never fails to move me.
It's interesting that it's not more popular. You'd think that listening to great tunes would be, at least for a large number of people, kinda the point. It just proves my theory that the biggest problem with music is that you have to listen to it.
@@DavesClassicalGuide yes, people should listen to the music carefully and savour it with gusto, not only the melodies, but also the whole musical discourse and its development of ideas, ot at least, that's how I like to approach great music.
I have the Belcea quartet (plus) and the Talich Quartet (plus) and the Nash Ensemble doing this Sextet and either way it's still one of "The World's Most Beautiful Melodies." Thanks Dave!!
Thank you for this recommendation. I hadn't heard this piece before, but just now found a beautiful live performance of it on the AVROTROS channel. It really is as good as you say.
Hi Dave, Very glad to see another entry in this series with such a wonderful tune! An idea: Suk’s Fantastic Scherzo, the lilting 3/4 melody after the intro (you know the one). Also Brahms Symphony no. 2, second subject.
My Dad had an LP set of the Heifetz-Piatigorsky concerts that included their recording of this wonderful work. Got to know it when I was a young whipper-an snapper. You could add the slow movement of the double concerto as a another of these 'tunes'.
I forgot about that, yes it's lovely. Thinking of Brahms I also love the 'poco meno presto' section in the middle of the 3rd movement of his Second Piano Trio, where the key changes from C minor to C major- equally gorgeous, especially played by Suk, Starker and Katchen.
Brahms is responsible for a number of my nominations now that i consider it a bit. the first theme of the G major quintet springs immediately to mind, simply astonishing in its grandeur, expressiveness and i am tempted to say ethical loftiness even though music probably cant do that haha i feel it though. D ma serenade first thema, D ma ballade melody spelled out across cascading arpeggiation. Adagio from the second symphony.. Adagio from the violin concerto - this is just in D! ... Mozart and Richard Strauss would be prominent on my list, as well as Bach, a vastly underrated pure melodist. anyway love this series a fun and positive one!
So glad this theme is back! And also much looking forward to the next installments of 'Footprints'. As for this sublime piece, I am grateful to you Mr. Hurwitz, for introducing it to your audience with such unaffected and infectious zest. Reminds me of something E.M Forster wrote about the 'peculiar, pushful quality'* that art has, 'the excitement that attended their creation, hangs about them' transforming us into eager missionaries. *Does Culture matter?, from 'Two Cheers for Democracy'
Thanks for your videos--always fun and educational! You are so right about the thrill of being in the middle of a reading of a piece of chamber music when everyone is firing on all cylinders! I am a fairly serious amateur violist and I think both Brahms sextets are among most violists' the absolute favorite pieces to play and to hear. The passage you played contains the famous "AGATHE" theme that was supposedly Brahms's farewell to the object of one of his failed love affairs. (I'll bet you dealt with that in the other videos you mentioned.) The final variation of the 2nd movement of the G major sextet is also an achingly beautiful passage with a ravishing pair of viola parts underneath the melody. Can hardly play (or hear) that without crying.
Advice taken. String heavy chamber music has never been my jam. But I've also never been in a live performance of it the way you described. Thanks for the tip, Dave.
It seems Brahms had thing for second themes, and I can imagine he found it quite effective to set it up that way. Look to the first movements of his first two Violin Sonatas--the second, especially.
Very beautiful. The first theme of the first movement of opus 78 could easily qualify for one of these talks too. I personally like the cello version especially (opus 78b).
My two tying choices for runner-up: 1) The long, arcing melody of the first movement in Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor, op. 38, shattering in its beauty snd tragic poise 2) The A-flat Klavierstuck op. 118 No. 2…the whole thing Brahms for-evahhhhh!
My favorite melody is found in Rachmaninov's third movement in his first symphony, its profound, tho i could have otherwise suggested every melody in the symphony.
Hi Dave, loving the Sextet again after some time. Beautiful indeed. Is the 2nd movement a "Theme and Variations"?. Weird, says in the CD here that it's a "Scherzo: Allegro Non Troppo - Presto Giocoso", and the Variations go for Sextet No. 1. Will check it out. Wow, I don't have the Piano Quartets, off to your ideal Brahms chamber works. Thanks for all. Ignacio.
Glad to see this series back. Apropos of your comment toward the end of the video, I can attest to how special it is to experience great chamber music in the appropriate setting. A girl I was dating in Fort Myers years back invited me to a private performance given by members of the local community Orchestra in their home of Brahms’ Second Piano Quartet, which I had never heard before. I recall the heroic power of that first movement was as impactful as that of a great symphony.
thankyou for reviving this series. If i may be so bold, i'd nominate the finale of Nielsen's 3rd symphony as a beautiful melody.
So glad to see the return of this great series - long may it continue! Totally agreed - Brahms’ sextets show him at his most approachable, melodious, and inventive. As a cellist, I appreciate how he gives a lot of his most inspired melodies to the cello!
I’ve had this very CD for decades now, and it’s a perennial favorite. When Dave mentioned the melody, I smiled and nodded, because I knew EXACTLY what he was referring to.
Seriously, you should get this Naxos CD.
Thanks!
Thank you!
What a joy!!! Long live this series 👏🏻🎉
I was missing this series. Very lovely melody indeed. That was one of Brahms's specialties, actually. Another melody of his I find quite endearing is the Trio section of the Scherzo of his Piano Trio No. 1. Never fails to move me.
It's interesting that it's not more popular. You'd think that listening to great tunes would be, at least for a large number of people, kinda the point. It just proves my theory that the biggest problem with music is that you have to listen to it.
@@DavesClassicalGuide yes, people should listen to the music carefully and savour it with gusto, not only the melodies, but also the whole musical discourse and its development of ideas, ot at least, that's how I like to approach great music.
I agree, the trio section sounds so nostalgic, a bit sad, almost Mahler like.
Paul
I have the Belcea quartet (plus) and the Talich Quartet (plus) and the Nash Ensemble doing this Sextet and either way it's still one of "The World's Most Beautiful Melodies." Thanks Dave!!
Thank you so much for the beautiful melodies list amazing music
Thank you for this recommendation. I hadn't heard this piece before, but just now found a beautiful live performance of it on the AVROTROS channel. It really is as good as you say.
I'm thrilled to see this series revived! I hope there will be more.
Hi Dave,
Very glad to see another entry in this series with such a wonderful tune! An idea: Suk’s Fantastic Scherzo, the lilting 3/4 melody after the intro (you know the one).
Also Brahms Symphony no. 2, second subject.
I second the Suk! There’s something so haunting and bittersweet - yet elegant - about that wonderful tune.
My Dad had an LP set of the Heifetz-Piatigorsky concerts that included their recording of this wonderful work. Got to know it when I was a young whipper-an snapper. You could add the slow movement of the double concerto as a another of these 'tunes'.
I forgot about that, yes it's lovely. Thinking of Brahms I also love the 'poco meno presto' section in the middle of the 3rd movement of his Second Piano Trio, where the key changes from C minor to C major- equally gorgeous, especially played by Suk, Starker and Katchen.
Brahms is responsible for a number of my nominations now that i consider it a bit. the first theme of the G major quintet springs immediately to mind, simply astonishing in its grandeur, expressiveness and i am tempted to say ethical loftiness even though music probably cant do that haha i feel it though. D ma serenade first thema, D ma ballade melody spelled out across cascading arpeggiation. Adagio from the second symphony.. Adagio from the violin concerto - this is just in D! ...
Mozart and Richard Strauss would be prominent on my list, as well as Bach, a vastly underrated pure melodist. anyway love this series a fun and positive one!
The String Quintet No. 2 contains a great idea after another. Glad you mentioned it. It's got one of my favorite openings in any work to boot.
👍 an other great imfo from you dave. danke
The second subject of the first movement of the *first* string sextet ain't too shabby either!
So glad this theme is back! And also much looking forward to the next installments of 'Footprints'.
As for this sublime piece, I am grateful to you Mr. Hurwitz, for introducing it to your audience with such unaffected and infectious zest. Reminds me of something E.M Forster wrote about the 'peculiar, pushful quality'* that art has, 'the excitement that attended their creation, hangs about them' transforming us into eager missionaries.
*Does Culture matter?, from 'Two Cheers for Democracy'
Thanks for your videos--always fun and educational! You are so right about the thrill of being in the middle of a reading of a piece of chamber music when everyone is firing on all cylinders! I am a fairly serious amateur violist and I think both Brahms sextets are among most violists' the absolute favorite pieces to play and to hear. The passage you played contains the famous "AGATHE" theme that was supposedly Brahms's farewell to the object of one of his failed love affairs. (I'll bet you dealt with that in the other videos you mentioned.) The final variation of the 2nd movement of the G major sextet is also an achingly beautiful passage with a ravishing pair of viola parts underneath the melody. Can hardly play (or hear) that without crying.
You mean the third movement (scherzo comes second).
Yes! Thanks.
Yes! Thanks.
Wow, it's beautiful and also quite daring in the undecided bouncing moments
I feel like there’s a lot in common here with the second subject of the first movement of schuberts string quintet!
Advice taken. String heavy chamber music has never been my jam. But I've also never been in a live performance of it the way you described. Thanks for the tip, Dave.
My favorite Brahms melody is found in the Fourth Movement of the First Symphony.
Already did that one.
It seems Brahms had thing for second themes, and I can imagine he found it quite effective to set it up that way. Look to the first movements of his first two Violin Sonatas--the second, especially.
Very beautiful. The first theme of the first movement of opus 78 could easily qualify for one of these talks too. I personally like the cello version especially (opus 78b).
Yes. The way that second theme in the violin concerto first movement makes its appearance is just lovely too.
My two tying choices for runner-up:
1) The long, arcing melody of the first movement in Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor, op. 38, shattering in its beauty snd tragic poise
2) The A-flat Klavierstuck op. 118 No. 2…the whole thing
Brahms for-evahhhhh!
I'm learning the op 118 no 2 and it's really gorgeous!
Not A-flat. A Major (three sharps.) But yes, it's melodious throughout.
Right - A-natural…Thanks!
When I saw this live, the musicians where in the middle and the audience in three circles around them.
My favorite melody is found in Rachmaninov's third movement in his first symphony, its profound, tho i could have otherwise suggested every melody in the symphony.
Brahms is the master of gorgeous melodies. How's the Op.91 no.1 song
"Gestillte Sehnsucht" for beauty?
Hi Dave, loving the Sextet again after some time. Beautiful indeed. Is the 2nd movement a "Theme and Variations"?. Weird, says in the CD here that it's a "Scherzo: Allegro Non Troppo - Presto Giocoso", and the Variations go for Sextet No. 1. Will check it out. Wow, I don't have the Piano Quartets, off to your ideal Brahms chamber works. Thanks for all. Ignacio.
Eh? The second movement IS the scherzo, and third (slow) movement is a set of variations.
@@DavesClassicalGuide Yes, you're right as always. All I needed to do is read the booklet. The 3rd movement marked "Poco Adagio". Thanks.