Hungarian Dances (Brahms)

The Hungarian Dances (German: Ungarische Tänze) by Johannes Brahms (WoO 1[1]), are a set of 21 lively dance tunes based mostly on Hungarian themes, completed in 1869.

They vary from about a minute to four minutes in length. They are among Brahms' most popular works, and were certainly the most profitable for him. Each dance has been arranged for a wide variety of instruments and ensembles. Brahms originally wrote the version for piano four-hands and later arranged the first 10 dances for solo piano.[2]

Only numbers 11, 14 and 16 are entirely original compositions. The most famous Hungarian Dance is No. 5 in F♯ minor (G minor in the orchestral version), but even this dance was based on the csárdás by Kéler Béla titled "Bártfai emlék" which Brahms mistakenly thought was a traditional folksong.[3]

Contents

List of Hungarian Dances

1 In G minor: Allegro molto
2 In D minor: Allegro non assai - Vivace
3 In F major: Allegretto
4 In F minor (F♯ minor for orchestra): Poco sostenuto - Vivace
5 In F♯ minor (G minor for orchestra): Allegro - Vivace
6 In D♭ major (D major for orchestra): Vivace
7 In A major (F major for orchestra): Allegretto - Vivo
8 In A minor: Presto
9 In E minor: Allegro ma non troppo
10 In E major (F major for orchestra): Presto
11 In D minor: Poco andante
12 In D minor: Presto
13 In D major: Andantino grazioso - Vivace
14 In D minor: Un poco andante
15 In B♭ major: Allegretto grazioso
16 In F minor: Con moto - F major: Presto
17 In F♯ minor: Andantino - Vivace
18 In D major: Molto vivace
19 In B minor: Allegretto
20 In E minor: Poco allegretto - Vivace
21 In E minor: Vivace - E major: Più Presto

The Hungarian Dances bear many resemblances to, and may have influenced, the similarly profitable and popular Slavonic Dances of Antonín Dvořák.

Orchestrations

Brahms wrote orchestral arrangements for No. 1, No. 3 and No. 10.[4] Other composers have orchestrated the other dances. These composers include Antonín Dvořák, Andreas Hallén (No. 2), Paul Juon (No. 4), Martin Schmeling (Nos. 5 to 7), Hans Gál (Nos. 8 and 9), Albert Parlow (Nos. 11 to 16). Dvořák orchestrated the last numbers. More recently, Iván Fischer has orchestrated the complete set.

Brahms's Hungarian Dances were influential in the development of ragtime.[5] See, for example, the role of German-American piano teacher Julius Weiss in ragtime composer Scott Joplin's early life and career.

Recordings

The Boston Pops Orchestra Cond.: Arthur Fiedler recorded "Hungarian Dance No 5" and "Hungarian Dance No 6" in Symphony Hall, Boston. "Hungarian Dance No 5" was recorded on June 25, 1950. It was released by RCA Victor as catalog number 10-3254B (in USA) and by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10631. "Hungarian Dance No 6" was recorded on June 16, 1950. It was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 10-3244B (in USA) and by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 10631. The pieces were arranged by Albert Parlow.

Julius Katchen and Jean-Pierre Marty recorded the complete set in the 1960s, as part of Katchen's recording of the complete piano works of Brahms. The French sister duo-pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque recorded the complete set of dances for Philips in 1981, as catalog number 4164592.

See also

References

  1. ^ Bozarth, George. "Brahms, Johannes". Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. Oxford. http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/51879pg11. Retrieved 26 September 2011. 
  2. ^ Lopraits, Elizabeth (2008). Hungarian gypsy style in the Lisztian spirit: Georges Cziffra's two transcriptions of Brahms' Fifth Hungarian Dance. ProQuest. p. 33. ISBN 9780549556077. 
  3. ^ p. 341 Walker (1998) Alan. Cornell. Franz Liszt: The Virtuoso Years, 1811 - 1847. Cornell University Press
  4. ^ Wilson, Conrad (2005). Notes on Brahms: 20 crucial works. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 42. ISBN 9780802829917. 
  5. ^ Brahms Hungarian Dance No. 5 on Bill Edwards' site.

External links