Brahms Op. 120 Sonatas - How do you like yours?

[ChamberNut]

I have not yet heard the clarinet sonatas in their entirety.  So I won't vote yet.

[DavidW]

Clarinet.  Duh.

[Sergeant Rock]

Sarge

[Gurn Blanston]

I like the viola versions, but I prefer the clarinet ones. Much of the writing is pretty idiomatic for the clarinet, hard for a viola to put the same nuance on it. OTOH, there isn't enough viola music written, and I think these works are a nice addition to the viola rep...



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Listening to:
USSR SO / Evgeni Svetlanov - Glinka Symphony in d on 2 Russian themes for orchestra  G. i193 (incomplete)

[ChamberNut]

Well, I'm a big fan of the sound of the viola.  Much prefer it to the violin.

[zamyrabyrd]

I played the piano part for the Eb sonata with first clarinet and then a few years later with viola. I would be interested in knowing if it's harder to play for viola or clarinet. The minor part has 6 flats if I remember rightly, not too string friendly.

ZB

[admiralackbar74]

I, too, played these sonatas during my college days once with (low and behold) clarinet and once with viola. The viola was the better experience for me, but I think I like these musically a touch better on clarinet.

[secondwind]

As a clarinetist, I am, understandably I hope, somewhat partial to hearing the pieces played on clarinet.   That said, I am now studying recorded viola versions of Op. 120 #2 to improve/enhance/expand my phrasing and interpretation.  Any recommendations?

[DFO]

120 No.1: Lionel Tertis-E.Hodbay - Primrose-José María Sanromá-
Primrose-Kapell
120 No.2: Primrose-Gerald Moore
120 1 and 2: Walter Trampler-Mieczyslaw Horszowsi

[secondwind]

120 No.1: Lionel Tertis-E.Hodbay - Primrose-José María Sanromá-
Primrose-Kapell
120 No.2: Primrose-Gerald Moore
120 1 and 2: Walter Trampler-Mieczyslaw Horszowsi

Thanks!  Any idea if they are in print?

[Gurn Blanston]

Thanks!  Any idea if they are in print?

That's always a wise question to ask when dealing with Carlos.   He has disks that they only burned 10 copies of...

That said, the Trampler/ Mieczyslaw Horszowski sounds like one to hunt for. I like them both.



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Listening to:
Vancouver Cantata Singers - Rheinberger - op.117 Missa brevis for mixed Choir-pt.4-Sanctus

[DFO]

Yes. I admit that my recommendations are always a little improbable
The Primrose recordings are on CD. Tertis was on very old 78s RPM, and I have it on a private LP copy.  The Trampler was on a old RCA vinyl. Don't know if it is on CD. Terti's is extraordinary! You better look for modern recordings. You know that I'm an "archaeologist"

[SonicMan46]

Well, I do enjoy these works on clarinet, and currently own the version w/ Frost on the instrument; also enjoy the Violin Sonatas w/ Viktoria Mullova, but of course different works.

Thus, I was looking through my collection and do not have the Op. 120 pieces on viola; these were transcriptions by Brahms himself for Joachim to play!  In reading a Jerry Dubins Fanfare review HERE, be was discussing the recording quoted below on Hyperion, but ended his comments w/ the sentence added to the ending of the quote:

BRAHMS Viola Sonatas: No. 1 in f; No. 2 in E♭.Trio in a for Viola, Cello, and Piano • Lawrence Power (va); Tim Hugh (vc); Simon Crawford Phillips (pn) • HYPERION 67584 (65: 29)......That privilege I'd have to reserve for a number of other potential candidates: Kim Kashkashian with Robert Levin on ECM New Series, Nils-Erik Sparf with Elisabeth Westenholz on BIS, and Nobuko Imai with Roger Vignoles on Chandos.

So, please keep the recommendations coming on the Viola transcriptions of Op. 120, and any comments on the 4 recordings mentioned by Dubins would be appreciated - thanks!   

 

[DFO]

For any of you who share my rarities mania, I've the 2 op.120 on VIOLIN, plus the complete "F.A.E." sonata, by Jerrold Rubenstein on a Pavane CD

[ChamberNut]

So, please keep the recommendations coming on the Viola transcriptions of Op. 120, and any comments on the 4 recordings mentioned by Dubins would be appreciated - thanks!   

Dave, I've heard and really like that set of Violin Sonatas. 

The Viola Sonatas on the Canadian Atma Classique label (Stephen Dann, viola and Lamber Orkis, piano), which I've got from the library and can't get enough listens, so I can recommend that one.

Another recommendation I have is on the Avie label, with Shlomo Mintz on both the Viola and Violin and Itamar Golan on piano, a 2 disc set of the Viola Sonatas, Violin Sonatas and the F-A-E Scherzo.    I've had that from the library more than once and really enjoy that recording too! 

[SonicMan46]

Dave, I've heard and really like that set of Violin Sonatas. 

The Viola Sonatas on the Canadian Atma Classique label (Stephen Dann, viola and Lamber Orkis, piano), which I've got from the library and can't get enough listens, so I can recommend that one.

Another recommendation I have is on the Avie label, with Shlomo Mintz on both the Viola and Violin and Itamar Golan on piano, a 2 disc set of the Viola Sonatas, Violin Sonatas and the F-A-E Scherzo.    I've had that from the library more than once and really enjoy that recording too! 

Hello Ray - thanks for the recommendations; in the interim between my post above, I was reviewing the offerings on Amazon, and put together a collection of 9 recordings, including the 3 that Dubins liked the most (unfortunately 2 are rather 'skimpy' on timing) - but I was amazed at 'how many' CDs are out there; so comments from all please who might be familiar w/ these - most were well received, so might be more of a personal preference - this of course did not include everything, just decided to stop - 

Brahms, Johannes - Viola Sonatas, Op. 120 - recordings for consideration:

Kim Kashkashian & Robert Levin on ECM reissue - just the 2 works at 44 mins. only!

Nils-Erik Sparf & Elisabeth Westenholz on BIS; short filler, but just 51 mins.?

Mikhail Muntian & Yuri Bashmet on RCA - 2 songs as fillers; want vocals?

Martin Amlin & Patricia McCarty on Ashmont - Schumann work as filler; all instrumental!

Timothy Hugh, Simon Crawford-Philips, & Lawrence Power on Hyperion; Trio included - Dubins OK?

Kristine Blaumane, Jacob Katsnelson, Katya Apekisheva, Maxim Rysanov, & Boris Brovtsine; Onyx - 2CDs - viola & clarinet/horn?

Roger Vignoles & Nobuko Imai on Chandos; 1 disc w/ Schumann filler; Dubins favorite!

Itamar Golan & Shlomo Mintz on Avie; 2CDs w/ both violin & viola sonatas + filler?

Leonid Hambro & Oscar Shumsky on Nimbus; 2CDs of violin & viola sonatas?


   

   


   

[val]

Regarding the opus 120/1 I prefer and by far the clarinet version.

The 2nd is a little different, perhaps more lyrical, and I have a slight preference for the viola.

But both are wonderful masterpieces. With the clarinet Quintet they are, to me, the most beautiful inspirations of Brahms, in the Autumn of his life.