Brahms and his arrangers

Paskins, H. and Hamilton, K. and Loges, N. (2014) Brahms and his arrangers. In: Brahms in the Home and the Concert Hall: Between Private and Public Performance. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 178-220. ISBN 9781107042704 (hardback) 9781108458085 (paperback) 9781316056585 (e-book)

Abstract

As a prolific arranger of his own music, Brahms understandably held strong views on how it should be done. The extensive surviving correspondence between the composer and arrangers of his music demonstrates his varying levels of interest – and intervention – in their work, and his assessment of the results. On occasion, he showed great interest in the fine details of the process, making suggestions and remarks on their work; at other times, he was simply content to trust to the expertise of colleagues without interference. Over 65 different arrangers produced at least 350 arrangements during Brahms’s lifetime, including at least fifteen arrangements of the ‘Wiegenlied’ Op. 49 no. 4 alone. This chapter explores the relationship between Brahms and the three most important arrangers of his music: Theodor Kirchner (1823–1903), Robert Keller (1828–91) and Paul Klengel (1854–1935).

Actions (login required)

View Item