Sentimental Work: Roger Tapping

I feel like I’ve known the Brahms String Sextet no.1 in B flat major since before I could talk. That’s not an exaggeration: before they were married, my parents went to see the French film Les Amants, in which the slow movement of the Sextet featured on the soundtrack. They loved it and immediately bought a recording of the piece, featuring Isaac Stern and Pablo Casals. I can still remember the effect it had on me as I was growing up: Casals’s warm playing unfolded the opening cello tune so lyrically, and the textures and characters were so beautiful. Maybe this piece influenced my decision to become a viola player: the viola parts are so mellow and rich that it might have been one reason why I gravitated towards it…