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Brahms: the viola’s champion

2021-08-04T10:57:00

Brahmns portrait

In this article from the May 1997 issue, Michael Freyhan examines how Brahms was one of the first composers to appreciate the viola’s potential, giving the instrument a chance to shine through his chamber music

As early as his mid-20s Brahms had made an expression of faith in the instrument, writing his Serenade no.2 in A major op.16 entirely without violins, which left the viola exposed. He did likewise in the sombre opening movement of the German Requiem, which was started even earlier, though the work took more than a decade to complete…

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