Music : Brahms: Complete Piano Music
from: Nimbus Records
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0710357178825
Format: Box set
Label: Nimbus Records
Manufacturer: Nimbus Records
Number Of Discs: 6
Publisher: Nimbus Records
Release Date: April 16, 1995
Sales Rank: 108448
Studio: Nimbus Records
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Brahms composed an astounding amount of piano music. Variations were a Classical form that long fascinated him. His most famous are The Handel Variations Opus 24, and the difficult Paganini Variations in which he shadowed the style of Liszt. Today this work is often compared with Bach's Goldberg and Beethoven's Diabelli Variations. Some of his shorter works include his Intermezzos,Romanzes, Rhapsodies,Caprices,and Fantasies. To me these are Brahms's most most important and expressive pieces he composed. My favorite pieces are Intermezzo 116 No. 4 and Intermezzo 118 No. 2. He brought these short forms to a new level of eloquence and expression. The first Intermezzo of Opus 118 is the very essence of Brahms's unmistakable sound and complexity in his music. I'll confess, I bought this set to fill the gaps in my piecemeal Brahms cd collection. Martin Jones' playing grows on me, much the same way Brahms music itself does. A word of warning if you are someone who likes pianists who play music slowly and passive. Yes, Martin Jones does play fast, but not always. He's generally fastest in the earlier works, where a case can be made for doing so. This applies to the first 2 sonatas, and the Paganini variations. Why would anything associated with Paganini lack virtuosity? The main thing is,it works. Every track is worth hearing. Martin doesn't put in a bad performance in the whole set.
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Johannes Brahms was one of the key figures in Romantic Piano Music. His output for the instrument was varied and large, and this four-disc set is ample testament to that output. As it was with their complete Beethoven Sonatas set (by Bernard Roberts), so it it here: Nimbus have enlisted a fine artist with a good command of the piano to record all of Brahms' solo piano music, and whilst I am not a Brahms addict myself, I am sure it will give great pleasure to collectors and serious Brahms fans.
I could offer a critique of all the works on these discs, but it is enough to single out a particular highlight. Martin Jones is particularly stunning with his rendition of the Hungarian Dances (which in their piano solo versions are not easy at all). The recording quality throughout is superb, enhancing the subtleties of Jones' performance.
All in all this is a worthwhile purchase. If anything, it is perfect for discovering Brahms in perhaps his most 'comfortable' genre. I should say that I came across this recording in the course of studying Romantic Piano Music for A-levels, and for that purpose it was invaluable.
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