Brahms | Joachim | Jenner : Works for violin and piano

Brahms and his friends volume 3 basically presents for the very first time Brahms’ violin sonata op. 78 as well as the violin sonata of his composition pupil Jenner (1865-1920).

 

Gustav Uwe Jenner was the only composition scholar that Brahms ever had.The violinsonata was composed in Vienna in 1893 when Jenner was studying with Brahms. It is one of the best evidence for one fact: Even if Brahms and Jenner shared the same musical language, Jenner was able to compose in his own way without denying his scholarship. Maybe that is also why Jenner could describe Brahms so precisely: “His words are so accurate and sharp, and he always hit the goal; but more often he kept quiet about the most important, without this, his words would not have been understood.” This characteristic attitude of Brahms can be heard very clearly in the sonata for pianoforte and violin op. 78. Theodor Billroth, Brahm’s doctor and friend thought about this work that it was to precious, delicate and private to be performed in a concert hall. The same Billroth estimated Joachim, to whom Brahms had dedicated his violin concerto, very much as well as all the circle around Brahms,that liked Joachim especially as a brillant violinist. The Romance, part of the “Three Pieces”had been the favorite work of the Countess of Weimar.