Where to go next with Brahms?

[JoshLilly]

Piano Quartet in G minor, Op.25
Piano Quartet in G minor, Op.25

No, that duplication is not accidental.

If you haven't heard it and you like Brahms, you have to listen to the Op.25 Piano Quartet.  It's my favourite Brahms work.  It's just.... indescribable.  I don't know why I have such a fetish about the first movement, but I just can't get enough of it.

Unlike most of the others here, I don't really love but a tiny handful of works by Brahms.  I like some more, and am indifferent to most of what I've heard.  I'm just giving my suggestion as a Brahms outsider.  I actually like all 3 Piano Quartets at least a little, but the Op.25 is godlike in my eyes... uh, ears.

[hornteacher]

hornteacher - Are the pieces you listed in any order of preference? It might be helpful as we consider other recommendations. Also, have you picked anything else up since starting this thread? Finding anything to your liking?

No specific order to my original list, although my absolute favorite work by Brahms is the Violin Concerto, followed closely by the 4th Symphony.  I've had a rough time in the past latching onto Brahms, which makes no sense because his music has so many elements I would enjoy: reliance on Classical forms, Romantic expression, music based on motivic development, orchestration that favors two of my favorite instruments, horn and clarinet.

Maybe I didn't latch onto him because his music is generally more mellow.  Not the power struggle of Beethoven nor the instant melodic appeal of Dvorak, (two people whom Brahms admired).  But as I'm sitting down with word scores, books, DVD lectures, etc, I'm "getting it" a lot more.

I think its obvious my next explorations need to be into his chamber music.  I sampled some clips of the G Minor Piano Quartet and fell in love with the gypsy-like last movement.  Any other ideas or resources that would help me dig deeper into Brahms would be appreciated.