Violin Sonatas Nos. 1-3, Op.78, 100, 108 by Johannes Brahms (New revised urtext edition) (Henle)
Brahms early on engaged with the violin sonata genre. As early as 1853 he wrote a sonata in a minor, which - like so many other youthful works of this self-critical composer - no longer survives. Thus the G-major sonata op. 78, written in 1878/79, is now counted as his first contribution to the genre; it has the nickname ''Regenlied Sonata'' (literally ''rain-song sonata'') because of the quotation from a song that appears in the finale. In summer 1886 Brahms composed, almost simultaneously, the two sonatas op. 100 and 108. All three works now have a firm place in the violinistic canon.
We round off our volume with the Scherzo in c minor that Brahms contributed to the so-called ''F.A.E Sonata'', which he composed together with Robert Schumann and Albert Dietrich as a gift for violinist Joseph Joachim in 1853. With its stark contrast between the turbulent allegro and the emotional piu moderato part, his scherzo has become a popular bravura and encore piece.
The present new edition, HN1566, is based on the New Brahms Complete Edition and replaces the previous release HN194, and offers a musical text and commentary that have been revised according to the latest research. The fingering is by respective masters of their instruments Frank Peter Zimmermann and Martin Helmchen.
