Piano Quartet No. 2 (Brahms) Explained

Piano Quartet in A major
Subtitle:	No. 2
Type:	Chamber music by Johannes Brahms
Image Upright:	1.2
Opus:	26
Performed:	1863
Movements:	four
Duration:	50 minutes

The Piano Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 26, by Johannes Brahms is scored for piano, violin, viola and cello. It was completed in 1861^[1] and received its premiere in November 1862 by the Hellmesberger Quartet with the composer playing the piano part.^[2] It has been especially noted for drawing influence from composer Franz Schubert.^[3] Lasting approximately 50 minutes, this quartet is the longest of Brahms's chamber works to perform and one of the longest piano quartets in the repertoire. He also made an arrangement of this quartet for two pianos.^[4]

Structure

The quartet is in four movements:

Analysis

First movement

The first movement is in sonata form.

Second movement

The second movement is in rondo form.

Third movement

The third movement is a scherzo and trio in compound ternary form, where both the scherzo and the trio are in sonata form.

Fourth movement

The fourth movement is in sonata-rondo form.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Johannes Brahms – Piano Quartet No.2 in A, Op.26 . Classical Archives . 2012-08-19.
2. Web site: Brahms: Piano Quartets –CD – CDA67471/2 – Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) . Hyperion Records . 2012-08-19.
3. Web site: LA Phil . Piano Quartet No. 2 in A major, Op. 26 . LA Phil . 2012-05-14 . 2012-08-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141108090302/http://www.laphil.com/philpedia/music/piano-quartet-no-2-major-op-26-johannes-brahms . 2014-11-08 . dead .
4. Web site: Celebrating Maureen Jones. Musica Viva Australia. 31 August 2017. 20 January 2020.