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Jeremy Denk on the Brahms Trio

Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-11-03 21:25

The excellent pianist and writer Jeremy Denk has posted some fascinating thoughts on the Brahms Trio at http://jeremydenk.blogspot.com/2005/10/brahms-imperfect.html.

It's a bit mushy, but I find his musings gain depth as I think about them. I'll listen to the Trio tonight to decide whether I agree with him.

Ken Shaw

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Re: Jeremy Denk on the Brahms Trio

Author: Tony Pay ★2017
Date: 2005-11-04 10:19

Yes, he thinks in the right sort of way, I agree.

Though the second subjects of the first and last movements are both slightly strange, I've always put that down to the fact that Brahms wrote them to go in canon with their inversion, and that they are first presented without the other canonic line -- though in the first movement the piano has a sort of double-speed piano echo of the 'cello tune, starting half way through each phrase and catching up, which covers the gaps in a way that the last movement 'doesn't bother to'.

Canonic writing is all over the clarinet pieces, of course -- opening of quintet slow movement, coda of first movement of F minor sonata, second subject of first movement Eb sonata, to name but a few -- but this technique of leaving out one of the lines to begin with is what makes those particular two instances in the Trio break new ground. (One is slightly reminded of the scheme of the last movement of the Eroica.)

Can anyone think of another example of the technique in Brahms, or was this a one-off?

Tony

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