Brahms - Variations on a Theme of Robert Schumann, Op. 9 - Katchen

[@Hubert-Winczewski]

0:00 - Temat 1:25 - Var. 1 2:45 - Var. 2 4:03 - Var. 3 [Tempo di tema] 4:30 - Var. 4 [Poco piu moto] 5:20 - Var. 5 [Allegro capriccioso] 6:00 - Var. 6 [Allegro] 6:45 - Var. 7 [Andante] 8:00 - Var. 8 [Andante] 9:24 - Var. 9 [Schnell] 10:00 - Var.10 [Poco Adagio] 11:45 - Var. 11 [Un poco piu animato] 12:38 - Var. 12 [Allegreto] 13:19 - Var. 13 [Non troppo presto] 13:52 - Var. 14 [Andante] 15:05 - Var. 15 [Poco Adagio] 16:53 - Var. 16 [Adagio]

[@bontempo01]

This really is something special. Variation 2 is so simple, yet such a powerful demonstration of Brahms' mastery in pleasantly confusing the ear with non-simultaneously resolved cadences... I could listen to that variation alone on repeat for hours. The way he changes colour and mood in Variation 4, etc... a true masterpiece. And he was only 20-21 years old...

[@petergoldstein1075]

The things we do for love...

[@jasperb7980]

Been obsessed with this peace for the last days and heard many interpretations. This one sticks out to me. It is just sublime in so many ways. You can feel the burning intensity in every note and the humbleness at the same time considering how exact he performs the expressive markings. One other thing I'd like to point out is his Phrasing. On of the major reasons why I prefer his interpretation above other ones. Especially in the last two Variations it is just breathtaking how clear the structure of the phrases is. Every moment I know exactly where he is going. His small subtle rubatos are off the charts. Listen to that first phrase of the second last variation... It's just shocking how natural it comes across, which is NEVER easy with Brahms melodies. And gosh his dolce and pianissimo... Tempo choice for the final adagio is brilliant as well as all those suspensions. Could go on but have to listen to it again now.

[@MB-pm4xe]

I don't have your technical knowledge or enough ability to play this piece, but I have heard dozens of recordings of Brahms and always come back to the Katchen set as what feels like home and the best.

[@kckrye]

Piece

[@ironmaz1]

Last variation makes me cry :'( ... such beauty :') It is a properly cathartic piece

[@FilippoGorini.pianist]

This piece is a wonder. Absolutely a masterwork, I hope I get a chance to play it someday

[@kweicee]

The theme also uses the note substitution for spelling that Schumann and his circle of friends used amongst themselves. In this case, C# B A G# A spells out "Clara", Schumann's wife's first name. This figure is known as Schumann's Clara theme, and Brahms uses it too to reference Clara Schumann in his works.

[@ethansaltmere]

what a musician katchen was!

[@01jemph]

The pianist is Julius Katchen. He died some time ago, and was not very old. He is wonderful on Brahms. Not sure if he's that well known in the U.S. but we heard recordings of his on one of the NYC FM stations years ago...made a note of his name, and bought many of his recordings.

[@eblackbrook]

Wonderful pianist! His work with Suk and Starker is great too.

[@steveegallo3384]

@@eblackbrook -- True......BRAVO from Acapulco!

[@PaulHummerman]

No-one seems to have made the obvious remark that both Robert Schumann and Brahms loved Clara, and that Brahms was probably paying adoring and melancholic tribute to both through these variations (in particular to Robert's theme and Clara's variations thereon). Katchen in turn pays magnificent tribute to all 3.

[@DonDonadio]

No reason to mention it since everyone knows it

[@pianosenzanima1]

nmharleyrider i didnt knew it

[@khool63]

au fond personne ne sait ce qui passa entre brahms et clara ,, amour platonique ou plus ,, je passerai peut être pour un naif mais je sens que clara aimait vraiment schumann ,, bien sûr elle éprouvait des sentiments pour le jeune yohannes ,, elle était plus agée et il s'agissait d'une autre époque et brahms lui même avait une admiration immense et sincère pour schumann qui souffrait composant enfermé dans une folie qui l'emporta ,, cette mort loin de rapprocher clara et brahms causa leur séparation définitive ,, sur le jeu de katchen je suis assez partagé d'autres pianistes me donnent plus de frissons ,, katchen réputé spécialiste de brahms s'en alla trop jeune ,, l'interprétation demeure émouvante toutefois

[@khool63]

les musicologues se battent pour savoir ce qu'il se passa entre brahms et clara ,,qui aimait schumann qui admirait brahms qui ???? c est leur vie privée et laissons rêver les mélomanes que nous sommes ,, passionnés par schumann et plus encore par brahms ,, quelle magie

[@victorialeeable]

Simply amazing! Truly breath taking use of the pianoforte

[@archcorenth]

Brahms was just the wonderful at variations.

[@racheloliver17]

Thank you very much for sharing:)

[@anferlo]

It's a variation-augmentation from the piano concerto's motif C-(H)-A-A

[@SY-cn4sk]

09:58 the best variation❤️

[@janek3455]

this is the variation in which Brahms said, "Clara speaks!!!" because in it he included a theme that Clara wrote originally for her op. 3 romance... and i agree with you

[@felixdevilliers1]

No, I'd say it was a reverent interpretaion. (See Hemmling below). I was interested in the references people see, but have they missed the most obvious? Variation 9 is entirely based on a piece form Bunnte Blaetter. No this has been noticed by cantseetheforest. In Variation 10, in the very last bars you can hear very clearly a thene from Clara's girlhood in a middle voice, Schumann used this theme of Clara's for hsi Vriations op. 5. He begins this work with the bass line only, which accounts for Brahms emphasisi of the has line at the end.His Variation 12 is based netirely on a piece in Schumann's Phantasiestuecke op. 12. Sfter a fight with Clara in later years, brahms wrote to her that she and her husband were the two people he had loved most.

[@cantseetheforest]

@jonjon1957jonjon You're right--the figuration in XIII is very similar in motion to the first theme of the Schumann Toccata; in XI, the right hand also has a motive which might be derived from one of the secondary themes (although the tempo is much slower here).

[@jonjon1957jonjon]

Thank you, this piece is new to me and is interesting for the demonstration of the 20-something Brahms' extended piano technique. I spot another reference to Schumann in variation XIII akin to the older composers Tocatta.

[@Lircking]

unbelievable piece actually

[@broiledhobbit]

Variation 2 is very similar to a variation in Schumann's Impromptus on a Theme of Clara Wieck, op. 5. Variation 4 recalls the Pedal Studies. Thanks for posting this exceptional performance of a beautiful piece.

[@ausi5720]

Another variation is that Ferran Lopez Carrasquer composed

[@darrenfreeman4936]

When I heard the first chord I immediately thought I was hearing the first chord of the second movement of mozarts 23rd piano concerto.

[@cantseetheforest]

Ah, I've learned several of Schumann's codes but have somehow missed that one. Beautiful--thanks.

[@zamyrabyrd]

I played this piece many years ago but if I were to rework it now, I would take faster tempi in general. Otherwise the whole work just plods along until an explosion of energy here and there.

[@AvntXardE]

Theme reminds me of Schubert's "Arpeggione Sonata in A minor"

[@kevinmantu]

Variation 2 ❤❤❤❤❤

[@hippotropikas5374]

Some chords sound jazzy :)

[@petergoldstein1075]

Top 5 brahms piano pieces

[@petergoldstein1075]

Schubert may have been famous for melodies but what can hold a candle to the Siciliano variation in this piece?

[@bernalum]

Brahms, Wunderbar !!!!

[@imangry4073]

Clara's "Variationen": kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4OvkqWugJyWoc0.

[@Superaurelio19]

Gracias!!

[@Thormenta11]

Variation 14

[@andreauribe6454]

Meine abend music...

[@juneaino8708]

Var. 14: 13:51

[@nousernamewhatsoever]

who is the pianist?this is absolutely WONDERFUL!

[@khool63]

julius katchen parti trop un amoureux de brahms

[@nathams1705]

_intéressant_

[@wb5267]

Het mooiste !

[@jonghunpp]

What is this edithion?

[@calebhu6383]

9:23, 11:45

[@asd-bm9rj]

13:18

[@mostsickestvideos4483]

What's the name of the original Schumann piece?

[@superhabp2577]

Bunte Blätter, Op.99 (Albumblätter: No. 1)

[@joeboyle5864]

"Colorful leaves", auf Englisch.

[@sergebayet4833]

probably :)

[@robertvalentinoscolaro7394]

beautiful...perhaps i like it faster.but beautiful all same

[@asd-bm9rj]

6:44

[@Disarm_]

Do not laugh at this song : Schumann write that song when he was in Asylum :(

[@katbullar]

Yunko BlakGuitar I visited "by accident" the Asylum he was in Endernich in Germany. Now it´s a library and a museum. Somehow I felt heartbreaking.... there are letters between him and Clara, some compositions, his piano and some personal belongings..... soooo sad...

[@Disarm_]

***** He was brokenhearted...he died for that...love is a beautiful pain :'/

[@katbullar]

Yunko BlakGuitar I don´t know if love is a beautiful pain, but I believe that pain can make us create beautiful things...

[@Disarm_]

***** i know what love could make : its can make good things, but when you are in trouble with your girlfriend, she hate you. She could'nt see you. You too, but you continue to love her. Don't ask why.

[@SpicedSkooma]

Yunko BlakGuitar Watchout ! It is NOT Schumann who wrote this song ! It's Johannes Brahms ! He was a very good friend of Schumann and indeed, he wrote those variations in his memory. I think it's the beautifulest way to honour Schumann. He's also my favourite composer, but those variations are also really emotive... Such feelings *0*

[@organboi]

Awful. Was his pedal broken. Sinful in that one variation.

[@BretislavStasa]

I dont get it, Clara made her own variations of this extraordinary theme, and they are so genial. I dont like these Brahms ones, however, I love his work except this particular piece.

[@jansnauwaert1785]

Incredible, since this is a great masterpiece.

[@__414.88b_]

Fasteeer

[@TonyStark-eq3jv]

This Piece is very boring !!!

[@CarlBowlby]

Don’t care for the interpretation, regardless of what Brahms wrote...I mean ‘ppp’? Really? I couldn’t damn well hear the thing! Too precious in spots, and too bravado in others. Perhaps Brahms’ intentions, but who the hell really knows, eh? Could do without the way too many E #’s in the piece, but oh well, can’t love everything Brahms wrote! Plus this was an early piece and written for Clara via Schumann’s depressed theme. I feel part of Schumann’s madness stemmed from him lauding Brahms as the “next genius” and Brahms then going into a retreat of sorts afraid to come out with his first concerto, or something like that, but then Brahms playing the alpha-male and young Turk attempting to take over Schumann’s wife! I would go mad, too! These variations are a symbiotic connection with Schumann’s illness, with Brahms lying in wait, ready to assume the role of husband at any minute. A queer menage à trois if there ever was one.

[@homesicknight]

This piece is a wonder. Absolutely a masterwork, I hope I get a chance to play it someday

[@albertoaka]

11:30