Brahms: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op.24 (Kovacevich)

[@NovicebutPassionate]

Wagner (after hearing the Variations on a Theme of Handel): "The old forms are not dead so long as there is someone who is truly the master of them." "The Symphony Since Beethoven", Felix Weingartner, Translated by H.M. Schott.

[@segmentsAndCurves]

That's very nice words from Wagner.

[@sanderspoelstra8961]

@@segmentsAndCurves and very interesting!

[@segmentsAndCurves]

@@sanderspoelstra8961 Indeed.

[@thomassnider6691]

Probably the only nice thing Wagner ever said abut Brahms.

[@1389Chopin]

Great quote - this channels brahms' Paganini commenter says liszt admited brahms variations were better - but his were first. Personally i like the handel variations - the last few then a straight lead into the fugue - amazing. My personal favorite recordings #1 van cliburn, #2 manny ax.

[@marktlancaster]

I'm ever so grateful for folks like this who take the trouble to upload not just the audio, but also the score of the music. I love reading the music as I listen. Thank you!

[@danielkelly5910]

Me too

[@catherinejones9396]

I adore this gem. I first heard Lance Dossor play it in one of my piano lessons at Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium in 1959 when I was 17.. It was the best ever lesson.-made me realise I never would reach the heights I had thought to aspire to, and freed me from the agony for the first time in 12 years, which may have been Mr Dossor's aim! I particularly like the delicate humour in Variation 10.

[@yondertz]

I don’t know how to react. Did mr. Dossor do a good job as a performer or a teacher? Anyways, at least we have these amazing recordings.

[@henrywolfecarradine]

One of my favorite set of variations.

[@ferocel]

The most intelligent reading of this piece I ever heard. Just stunning in every way. Thanks for the upload.

[@ultrametric9317]

Agreed, it is great playing.

[@timothythorne9464]

This set, and the intensely romantic and virtuosic Paganini Variations which followed, are the finest examples of the form since Beethoven's epic Diabelli Variations.

[@calebhu6383]

@@timothythorne9464 I would say that Schumann also did miraculous work with his Symphonic Etudes

[@timothythorne9464]

Caleb Hu I don't know this Schumann piece, and really haven't listened to a lot of Schumann. I've heard people swear that Schumann is one of the greatest composers, and others say he's second rate. What I've heard by Schumann I really like, his concerti and symphonies. I probably need to listen to his solo piano works and then I'll get back to you

[@calebhu6383]

@@timothythorne9464 His solo piano works are not the easiest to decipher but they are far and away his greatest works. Listen to the Fantasy, Carnaval, Fantasiestucke Op.12, along with the Symphonic etudes.

[@timward276]

I love that build-up after the "music-box" variation, through variations 23 and 24 until the theme explodes to life in 25, and then the fugue takes wing afterwards.

[@andremouss2536]

Did someone notice that the final part of the fugue (from 24:45) may well have been an inspiration for Modest Mussorgski in "the Great Gate of Kiev" from "Picrures at an Exhibition" ? There is even the same bell tolls and carillons from 25:02.

[@segmentsAndCurves]

It's more likely to be a development of the theme/motif. Beautiful effect indeed.

[@MichaelConwayBaker]

Fantastic performance of one of the milestones of the piano repertoire!

[@asd-bm9rj]

1:47 var2 2:23 var3 2:59 var4 5:00 var6 7:13 var9 8:29 var10 16:33 var20

[@CH3CH2OCH2CH3net]

This was a delight. Thank you for posting this recording -- Kovacevich's performance is one of the steadiest, and at the same time one of the most incisive interpretations of this piece I've ever heard. GREAT commentary, btw!

[@bassonvolant7097]

I remember when I asked my piano teacher how about my studying these variations and he replied : "Nope, t's too dangerous" 🤭😁

[@IvanGreindl]

Une version *équilibrée* de cette œuvre magnifique : sobre et sensible, sans pathos, sans recherche exagérée "d'effets". Simplement superbe... [Thanks for sharing!]

[@sedefcankocak9523]

Such delicate touch in Variation 5: great playing.

[@andrewanderson6121]

there are many distinguished versions of this masterpiece and this one is definitely in the top echelon! he manages better than many those last couple of pages where the subject often gets buried. We can be very thankful for such a life affirming joyous piece of music. It 'lights up our life'!

[@watutman]

This 2nd best to Dovgan. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJqvd32Lp6atng

[@orgyenzopa]

I have long admired immeasurably this recording by Kovacevic. Bravo! (Amazing what a treasure trove lies in store for hapless people - like me!)

[@МарианнаЮматова]

Нет слов для выражения,насколько прекрасные вариации! Фуга исключительна,обладающая неповторимым,свежим музыкальным содержанием!! Я сравниваю И.Брамса,как продолжателя,по силе музыкальной мысли с Великим Л.Ван Бетховеном!!! Трижды,Браво! Великий Мастер!!!! 🎹👏👏👏👏👏❤🎹👏👏👏👏👏

[@TJFNYC212]

I love everything SBK does. He is truly one of the greats and a little underappreciated in my mind. thanks for posting

[@johnmueter378]

Magnificent performance of a masterpiece!

[@davidrehak3539]

Johannes Brahms:Variációk és Fúga egy Händel témára Op.24 Ária 00:00 1. Variáció 00:55 2. Variáció (Animato) 01:46 3. Variáció (Dolce) 02:24 4. Variáció (Risoluto) 03:00 5. Variáció (Espressivo) 03:48 6. Variáció 05:00 7. Variáció (Con vivacita) 06:02 8. Variáció 06:37 9. Variáció (Poco sostenuto) 07:13 10. Variáció (Energico) Stephen Kovacevich-zongora

[@johnphillips5993]

My Top 10 Variations pieces: 1. Bach Goldberg Variations 2. Beethoven Diabelli Variations 3. Brahms Handel Variations 4. Rachmaninoff Chopin Variations 5. Beethoven Eroica Variations 6. Mendelssohn Variations Sérieuses 7. Brahms Paganini Variations 8. Beethoven 32 Variations in C minor 9. Brahms Variations Op.21 no.1 10. Chopin Variations Brillantes

[@segmentsAndCurves]

Chopin "La ci darem la mano"?

[@segmentsAndCurves]

Anyway, that is a nice set!

[@Sam-tj9np]

finale of the ninth and eroica

[@juankang04]

Schumann symphonic etudes

[@zswu31416]

Also "The People United Will Never Be Defeated"! Takes a while to get used to if you aren't into atonal stuff, but its amazing!

[@hugonavakopp]

I read in a biography of Brahms that he composed these as a gift for a birthday of Clara Schumann and that she prepared them in a week’s time for a concert .

[@nestor4249]

Two genius at work

[@Aaronthegreatest]

dang the Schumanns knew everybody

[@marcoesquandolez]

I also read that he was quite dissappointed with her performance!

[@nadiaboulanger9323]

that's crazy

[@therealrealludwigvanbeethoven]

@@nestor4249 Although the senior Schumann was definitely superior.

[@steffig100]

Bravo! What a climax! Thank you for uploading this version.

[@CocTheElf]

I love how clean Brahms' scores look. There's no unnecesary cadenzas nor pauses.

[@timothythorne9464]

Jorge González Brahms was a Classicist living in the wrong time. And, like Mozart, he had entire four-movement sonatas and symphonies thought out in his mind before committing them to a score.

[@calebhu6383]

He followed in Schumann's footsteps, and I don't think Schumann wrote a single cadenza in his life

[@classicalpublisher0218]

@@calebhu6383 Schumann has one in his piano concerto, although I am not sure if that's quite what you're referring to? Let me know

[@calebhu6383]

@@classicalpublisher0218 Hardly a cadenza by Romantic standards, definitely not for showing off

[@classicalpublisher0218]

@@calebhu6383 I agree, but a very beautiful one at that! :D

[@KV4671]

Julius Kätchen on Decca also did it very well. Brahms his best piece (opus 24) for the piano perhaps.

[@jeromeweingart5596]

Juiius Katchen's performances of Brahms were among the best I have heard. His recording of the violin / piano sonatas with Josef Suk are brilliant We lost Katchen to cancer at age 42.

[@gaydvorak7053]

Katchen is probably the best Brahms interpreter IMHO. Rhythmically driven, lyrical, dramatic, and subtle, all at once. His recording of the late works of Brahms might be my favorite piano recordings of all time

[@piano1500]

My absolute favorite interpretation of this piece.

[@michaelwisse9284]

how about Kätchen

[@sovietunion4875]

You should listen to Perahia's as well.

[@watutman]

Alexandra Dovgan. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJqvd32Lp6atnrM

[@classicalpublisher0218]

17:17 and 17:36 has the BACH motif... anyone else notice? Perhaps this foreshadows the coming fugue!

[@johannesbrahms3322]

there is no way this was intentional, I was just continuing the same idea, but cool

[@ultimateconstruction]

Holy shit.

[@timothythorne9464]

Best set of theme and variations ever, by any composer.

[@eduardoguerraavila8329]

In the oppinion of several critics, greatest cycle of variations are "Diabelli Variations", from L.V. Beethoven... Alfred Brendel, Donald Tovey, and several more. 🤔

[@albertol.4048]

Goldberg and Diabelli are far above

[@timothythorne9464]

Alberto Lorenzo that's definitely arguable. Neither of those has a crowning fugue. Diabelli Variations, while interesting, is way too long. I usually fall asleep long before it ends. Same with the Goldberg variations but I find most of Bach's music academic and boring. Brahms built upon his predecessors, particularly Bach, Mozart and Beethoven, to create music of supreme excellence with not one wasted note anywhere in his scores.

[@eduardoguerraavila8329]

@@timothythorne9464 I have to disagree with you, "Diabelli Variations" have a fugue at final and It has more sense of variation of the main theme, with absolutely no waste of any note. They are vastly superior to Brahms' work.

[@albertol.4048]

@@timothythorne9464 Goldberg don't have a fugue hahahaha. Ok they probably don`t have a formal fugue, but the counterpoint on each variation is way larger than in all Brahms. If you find Bach academic maybe the problem is that you don't have the kwoledge required yet. Or that you don't have the sensibility required. In any of both cases, I'm not gonna argue with someone who says that Bach's music is academic.

[@alexnewson6013]

This piece (and this particular interpretation) presages Bartok in my jumbled old brain. Not sure if anyone else needed to know that however, sorry folks....

[@sirdicaudore]

Kovacevich is truly a GREAT musician!!!

[@marcstrassburg3126]

Great playing, great commentary!

[@Peabody6517]

i really really love this piece

[@spottertruk]

My favorite pianist of this amazing piece written by Brahms is Emmanuel Ax.

[@makaan699]

Yo, for real! I got his recording recommended by spotify, loved it immediately. Haven't heard a better recording of the piece, it's so energetic and lively, yet precise, crystal clear and he just gets the mood soo right for each variation.

[@meowmeowcat6013]

That indeed is another excellent rendition of the op.24.

[@BLOP888]

The trills oh my

[@brothersamati]

Listen to Wang Yujia. She gets them right!

[@canman5060]

My daily exercise to make my dogs listen to me !

[@Liborun]

nonon, listen to Sokolov, you will see

[@rociopereyra3706]

BLOP888 zd

[@peterjongsma2754]

Did they trill you?

[@fredvacher3998]

Fantastic performance!

[@PieInTheSky9]

That fugue is so incredible, similar in brilliance to Beethoven's fugue in the final movement of the Hammerklavier sonata.

[@ultrametric9317]

Although I love this piece, and the fugue is credible, it's not remotely up to Beethoven, to whom fugue was a mother tongue. The driving intensity of the fugues that conclude the Diabelli Variations and the Op. 106 sonata are without comparison in anyone outside Bach. I would even say Beethoven and Bach stand together as equals in this form. Nevertheless this is a great and fascinating piece and fully worthy of Diabelli and Goldberg.

[@ullrichherz7053]

Ultrametric Please listen intensely to Serkin's rendition of Max Reger's Bach-Variations opus 81, esp. the fugue!! You won't regret it. Imho at the same level as Bach's Goldberg and Beethoven's Diabelli Variations.

[@Angel33Demon666]

Ultrametric Don't forget the fugues in his Misha Solemnis.

[@1anya7d]

I wonder if Beethoven took it as an inspiration

[@bennyhillschineseblokechar3689]

Ah yes, I recognise that leitmotif.

[@mariabeatrizpontesdecarval7644]

Esplêndida interpretação, enriquecida por esplêndidas e didáticas explicações. Como aprendi, o que aumentou o prazer de ouvir. A fuga, então, é extraordinária. Realmente, “breathtaking”.

[@jihoonlee433]

Thank you for posting! Gotta look into some more Brahms ::::: ^) Happy new year!

[@brettw173]

i really love this piece. thank you for the notes. they are very helpful. mr. brahms could've made the rain dance for him, i think. :-)

[@danik.5545]

A great tribute to the amazing Handel

[@MichaelConwayBaker]

Wonderful performance of this masterpiece!

[@manuelgustavogarciacastro1955]

The best version I ve ever heard. The fugue in wonderfull

[@L1102]

I love the 5th variation

[@Rokudammela]

Thank you for sharing this masterpiece and all of these infos!

[@thefredericchopin6581]

I know I’m late, but I love the fact that you uploaded the variations of the Aria right after the Suite that it came from. IMO, Brahms was at his best when composing variations - I can listen to them and think ‘Yep, that’s Brahms’. The fugue, though, I find a bit forced musically. Other than that, great set of variations!

[@mothbyte98]

This should be Brahms making a case for his music....absolutely stunning!

[@aksuli1]

Never heard this before. A great step up from original.

[@vladtepes3123]

23:31 reminds me Toccata and Fugue in d-minor Bach-Busoni (piano version)

[@sergio6357]

I agree

[@andremouss2536]

Mussorgski probablyt took an inspiration from the finale (25:01) for his greatest work (Pictures from an Exhibition) in the last part The Gate of Heroes in Kiev), when the Great Bell on left hand fights the carillon of right hand.

[@kmkantymir4373]

The perfect pair to the Paganini variations

[@joshuaslater7858]

Variations 9 and 23 are amazing!

[@xswooshx]

The fact that this piece doesn't have over 1 million views -- AT LEAST -- is borderline criminal. However, worry not! I'm doing my best to increase that number as quickly as possible! **EDIT**: For those who want additional background on the piece, it even has a Wikipedia page -> en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variations_and_Fugue_on_a_Theme_by_Handel

[@BESTOFCLASSICALMUSIC]

Thanks so much for this video so I can read along with the music!

[@m.erubik]

Hi

[@Barbapippo]

GREAT performance.

[@Michelle6998832]

#9 is so jazzy, I love it!

[@1389Chopin]

I usually judge var22 on through the fugue - i don't know the performer - but bravo! This is excellent

[@watutman]

Really enjoyed the finale!

[@lacorchea955]

Handel y Brahma... Brahms y Handel. La neta del planeta. Bravooooooooooo

[@FirstGentleman1]

It's a cathedral.

[@giampierogirolamo7134]

My final recital at conservatory and shaped me for all life

[@otonanoC]

The last few measures are a quote of Schumann's toccata.

[@arrimeme6447]

Magnificent rendition. Thanks for uploading. It seems to me that Katchen's accentuation of the var. 3 fits better the music written by Brahms: the first quaver must bear more accentuation that the second, because the bar/beat begins with it, etc. Me parece que la acentuación de Katchen refleja mejor la escritura musical: la primera corchea debe estar más acentuada que la segunda porque por ella comienza el compás/parte, etc.

[@valerieheinderyckx4506]

Superbe.

[@johannsebastianbach9829]

eesh! Those Romantic composers had a hard time writing fugues

[@brettmcinnes2538]

@JASON P. Roberts Yawn!

[@michaelrogers5495]

Lol, I'm sorry? It's a romantic fugue. Get over it

[@felix699]

Haha, all the good subjects already written by you Bach

[@1233-p5f]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJOmqJ6OhZeiiqs

[@baileyrob]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5rNhoOVZd6Yntk Get your dentures 'round that, Bach!

[@johannesbrahms3322]

16:20 intentional f instead of f#?

[@andrewmacgill1704]

Marvellous! Thanks.

[@grumpyoldpianistplus]

Beautifully played in mostly strict time, which is very suitable for a Baroque composer, who Handel was. However, this is a composition by a composer in the late romantic era which should be enhanced by some give and take called rubato. Rostropovitch, teaching a pupil, once said 'Where were YOU in this?'

[@jan-heinzhesse7304]

♥️ Operette ♥️♥️🤩💪 zu viel Werbung?!!!!!

[@kniazigor2276]

Une version "idéale" de cette magnifique oeuvre de Brahms

[@djtomt]

Wonderful!!

[@kaoutaraddadi574]

Here from appergio on sea surface 😭😭😭😭🥀❤

[@meowmeowcat6013]

Have you done your thing with the two Brahms piano concerto yet? Wouldn't mind the Piano Quintet, three piano trios, three piano quartets, and his other solo works as well... (sorry, I am a Brahms simp)

[@MrFrollo99]

Variation n 5 reminds me the beginnin of the second Ballade of Chopin

[@MrFrollo99]

J F Thompson Listen the 6:51 minute of the 2nd Ballade (its the end)

[@MrFrollo99]

J F Thompson The recording of Zimermann, after the powerful coda lol

[@am3456]

Var. 1 - 0:56 🧡 Fugue - 21:33 💜

[@lizedi7440]

spectacular！

[@stevewiencek1354]

I tend to like Kovacevich in quite a lot of things. I feel this is played a little too "straight." Brahms is always a conundrum. He is so strict in his own adherence to form and yet he is without doubt a romantic composer. I have a Richter recording of this which maybe goes a little too far in the other direction but it's quite dramatic and the fugue is breathtaking.

[@piano1500]

This is just such a definitive performance. Do you happen to know where I can get a theory analysis of this piece?

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

What kind of analysis are you looking for? There's not a lot beyond what's already in the description, since it's quite a straightforward form.

[@albertol.4048]

Var 22 18:44

[@KV4671]

Kumar you are a great teacher !

[@ironmaz1]

Clear nod to Diabelli variations ? [Var 9]

[@timward276]

which composer wrote the most 3-against-2 rhythms (like in Var. 2)? It might well be Brahms--he does that a *ton*.

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

Yeah, he definitely had a major thing for hemiolas. But who's to begrudge him - he does such amazing things with them (in his piano concertos, for instance)!

[@timward276]

@@AshishXiangyiKumar Hemiolas seems to be Brahms' "thing", like triplets for Schubert and dotted rhythms for Schumann.

[@gaydvorak7053]

Maybe Bruckner, but his hemiolas seem to be more melodic than harmonic, whereas Brahms's are the opposite

[@kofiLjunggren]

Why is the piano off tune??

[@kofiLjunggren]

No it’s not lol

[@johnburniston6525]

@@kofiLjunggren I am sure that YOU are out of tune!

[@grumpyoldpianistplus]

WHO IS PLAYING THIS? Kumar or Kovacevich?

[@次郎木付]

サムネにコバチェビチと書いてます

[@huangfrancis8717]

The fugue reminds me the final of Hammerklavier!

[@Wihf]

Who here from that vinyl in an abandoned school exploration by UrbexHill?

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

Wait wait - how on earth did this end up in an UrbexHill vid? I’m pretty intrigued

[@Wihf]

@@AshishXiangyiKumar not this video, but the piece of music was on a vinyl in one of UrbexHill’s videos. One of the abandoned school videos

[@ciararespect4296]

Just sight read this at my school 😅

[@calebhu6383]

23:57

[@pleasegoawaynowpleas]

What are your thoughts on the Perahia recording?

[@AshishXiangyiKumar]

That one goes in the "awesome, but a bit too well-known" box.

[@gwedielwch]

Marvellous comment. It is indeed awesome.

[@hubertborde]

I love Perhaps recording. His sound plans are very clear.

[@TheTranq]

I love variation 23

[@사마천원리적인식]

brahms ~! greatest composer~!!

[@timothythorne9464]

사마천원리적인식 I agree. Like Beethoven, but better because with Brahms it's all about the music, with no external programs.

[@eduardoguerraavila8329]

@@timothythorne9464 I didn't understand your point.

[@timothythorne9464]

Eduardo Guerra Ávila Beethoven composed lots of program music, as did Lizst, Wagner, Tchaikovsky and most 19th century composers. In someway Brahms emulated Beethoven in his obsession with musical form, and Brahms was more meticulous than Beethoven in getting rid of unnecessary notes and passages in his music. And most importantly, Brahms, like Bach from an earlier generation, composed ABSOLUTE music--the art of Brahms was music for music's sake, without any external program. For all these reasons, in addition to the passion, tenderness, and sentiment found throughout his scores, Brahms > Beethoven. I know that's controversial, but that's really the way I feel.

[@eduardoguerraavila8329]

@@timothythorne9464 I couldn't be in more disagreement with you (I am a loyal Beethoven's follower) but I do respect your point of view. Regards.

[@segmentsAndCurves]

@@timothythorne9464 I like absolute music, but some programmes don't hurt, right?

[@GICM]

ey this is back up

[@veronicarawlings4217]

I work with communits in ireland

[@rumataastorskiy5734]

Veronica Rawlings ??

[@AMoonShapedPoo]

cool

[@automatofix]

Variation 13: 10:49

[@calebhu6383]

3:12, 12:24, 13:01, 13:40, 24:44

[@Curocko]

Why are there so many parallel sixths and thirds in the fugue? He writes splendid countersubjects and then there are so many passages in extended double thirds and sixths which devolve to the point of two part writing. Was the idea to emulate how fugues often drop voices in the episodes? Doing things this way however loses the textural contrast that fugues earn by doing that, where the episodes have a lighter texture. I don't know.

[@sebastianschweigert7117]

It's not the same as two part writing because there's still the harmony from the thirds or sixth. Maybe the distinction of the voices might get lost, but there's also a layer of meaning in the choice of sixth or third, etc.

[@MyMydear0303]

21:33 Fuga

[@Scherzokinn]

Apparently Rachmaninoff learned this piece in two days...

[@therealrealludwigvanbeethoven]

Which anecdote states this?

[@Scherzokinn]

Someone asked me for the fact I said but there's a YT glitch which makes my reply disappear, so here's the source senar.ru/memoirs/Goldenweiser/

[@robertgreene2684]

My college roommate learned the Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in a weekend,, He told me he was starting work on it one Saturday morning and Sunday evening he invited me over to the music department , where he played the whole thing through from memory, all the notes too. People like this are another breed of cat!

[@Scherzokinn]

@@robertgreene2684 this is extremely impressive! :o

[@m.erubik]

25:01

[@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

22:40

[@alikhalil9728]

At some points some of his music seems like Mozart's non?

[@Tizohip]

Like.. very good..