kepo-ing Zz85

Tuned to the Arst3000 Online classical radio while studying, a surprisingly familiar melody caught my attention and then I introduced the song to my friend to appreciate.

It was the opening from Brahms’ 2nd Piano Concerto, 3rd movement- Andante and hearing that always remind me of 2nd movement from Brahms’ Violin Concerto. I felt they were similar: Both were the openings of their movements, both beautiful melodies, both played by instruments not the soloist’s, both played for a while before the soloists start to snatch back the audience’s attention.

Who doesn’t know Brahms Lullaby? Brahms’ melodies have something special in them, and perhaps Mendelssohn always wanted that ability of Brahms to compose melodies, songs everyone could remember remember, whistle or hum (or haunt) after hearing them.

Recently I got hooked to Brahms 2nd Symphony again. In just the first 3 minutes of the first movements, appears 2 melodies I like. 1st is slightly after the 1st minute, and the second slightly after the 2nd minute and both melodies would reappear again couple of times in the movement. The 2nd melody to me feels like a variations to Lullaby.

Other nice works from Brahms (in my collection), (Violin and Cello) Double Concerto, Brahms Violin Sonatas, and the rest of his symphonies, his Viola/Clarinet sonata and intermezzo for piano.

Try Brahmsing!