Instrument: brass tentet (score and parts)
Grade: conservatoire
Catalogue No: AL001
In December 1890, a world-weary Brahms sent his publisher a note: "You can now take leave of my music: it's high time I stopped". It was not to be, since in 1891 he heard the clarinetist, Richard Mühlfield and was inspired to write the A minor Trio and B minor Quintet for him to play. These were in turn followed by a series of piano pieces published in four sets as Op. 116, 117, 118 and 119.
The Intermezzo No. 2 shows Brahms' extraordinary ability to transform a seemingly simple melodic idea into a coherent whole. In particular, the remarkable metamorphosis of the moody minor opening theme into the glorious central waltz tune in the major key. If performed without a conductor, the syncopations of the opening and closing sections must be based around an overall pulse for rhythmic clarity, especially the continual quaver movement in the lower parts.
This arrangement is an ideal companion to the other two Op. 119 works published by ALAW.
