Playing Hub

Masterclass: Hagai Shaham on Brahms Violin Sonata no.3

2020-10-13T03:08:00

YoelLevy

In his explorations of the first movement, the Israeli violinst discusses the German composer’s clear performance instructions, intimate Romantic style and self-critical nature

Brahms was very critical about his own compositions. He probably burnt more pieces than he published, starting with at least one violin sonata – possibly four – that he wrote when he was 20. Initially the first one, in A minor, was rejected by his publisher, Breitkopf and Härtel, and later he destroyed that and the others because they failed to meet his own high standards. These standards never diminished: he wrote this Third Sonata in his fifties, and it is a great, temperamental and inspirational piece, in perfectly constructed sonata-allegro form, worked out so carefully that you can’t take out one note or add one in. To me, it is one of the most important and immaculate pieces written for the violin…

Already subscribed? Please sign in

Subscribe to continue reading…

We’re delighted that you are enjoying our website. For a limited period, you can try an online subscription to The Strad completely free of charge.

  • Free 7-day trial

    Not sure about subscribing? Sign up now to read this article in full and you’ll also receive unlimited access to premium online content, including the digital edition and online archive for 7 days.

    Free trial

    No strings attached – we won’t ask for your card details

  • Subscribe 

    No more paywalls. To enjoy the best in-depth features and analysis from The Strad’s latest and past issues, upgrade to a subscription now. You’ll also enjoy regular issues and special supplements* and access to an online archive of issues back to 2010.

    Subscribe

 

* Issues and supplements are available as both print and digital editions. Online subscribers will only receive access to the digital versions.