Description

Johannes Brahms selected a theme from his friend and mentor Robert Schumann on two occasions to create piano variations. While the Variations op. 9 were written for solo piano, he made an exception with Opus 23, which is arranged for four hands. The theme, which is gentle and reminiscent of a chorale, is particularly poignant and was thoughtfully chosen by Brahms: it represented one of Robert Schumann’s final musical reflections, which the composer, already suffering from severe delusions, believed he perceived as messages from angelic voices. Composed in 1861, the Variations conclude with a sort of funeral march and can be interpreted as a nostalgic farewell to his departed friend. The musical text is derived from the New Brahms Complete Edition, ensuring the utmost precision and reflecting the latest research findings. This Urtext edition, complete with fingerings by Andreas Groethuysen, a recognized expert in the four-hand repertoire, meets all expectations.