Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2

1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 Brahms’ two piano concertos could not possibly be any more different. &nbsp;The first, written when Brahms was just 25, is dramatic, stormy, and impulsive. &nbsp;This makes sense seeing at it was written practically as a direct response to the attempted suicide of his friend and mentor Robert Schumann. &nbsp;The second, written 22 years later when Brahms was a seasoned and mature composer at the height of his abilities, was not, as far as we know, inspired by any specific event. &nbsp;It is a warm, almost sun-tanned piece, but it also does something that makes it both the perfect piece to analyze on a show like this, but also makes it a rather elusive one that takes some baking to really understand and appreciate. &nbsp;What Brahms does in the 2nd piano concerto is to distill everything that makes Brahms really Brahms into one 50 minute piece of music. &nbsp;There’s continuous development, gorgeous melodic lines, contrasts of character, stern willful music immediately followed by tenderness, Hungarian music, light music - it’s ALL there - but here’s the key - it’s not an events based piece. &nbsp;What I mean by that is that its not like Brahms moves from one character or personality trait to another like he’s putting together mismatching clothes. &nbsp;Instead, he integrates all of these different facets of his music into the whole - one moment you are hearing stern and powerful music, and the next, almost without realizing, you are into some of the most tender music he ever wrote. &nbsp;This is the power but also the complexity &nbsp;of Brahms’ 2nd piano concerto.&nbsp; Join us to learn all about it! Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast http://stickynotespodcast.libsyn.com/ <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/22479428/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/content/123398474