Notes on the Spotify Playlist

NOTES ON THE SPOTIFY PLAYLIST (Revised May 3, 2024)

1. The playlist includes every exposition repeat (or other repeat) that Brahms indicated. That was one of my most important criteria.

2. In spots that require gapless playing between tracks (such as a few of the variation sets and the cantata Rinaldo), Spotify does a very lovely job (unless you use the free version and it’s time for an ad).

3. Both the original and revised versions of the Op. 8 Piano Trio are included (these are essentially two different pieces).

4. The Ave Maria, Op. 12, is given in two versions, one with orchestral and one with organ accompaniment.

5. The piano solo arrangement of the second movement from the Sextet, Op. 18, is included after the entire Sextet itself.

6. The Piano Quintet, Op. 34, is followed by its arrangement as a Sonata for Two Pianos, Op. 34b.

7. There are four (somewhat confusing) versions of the Waltzes, Op. 39. The first sixteen tracks are the original version for one piano, four hands. These are followed by two tracks, the standard, more “difficult” solo (two-hand) version. There are then 16 tracks for the “easy” solo version. Finally, there are five tracks for the waltzes Brahms arranged for two pianos, four hands. These are numbered 1-5 here, but they correspond to Nos. 1, 2, 11, 14, and 15 of the other three versions.

8. The Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op. 52, are included in the main version for piano duet with vocal quartet as well as the version for piano duet without voices, Op. 52a.

9. The Haydn Variations for orchestra (Op. 56a) are on a single track. The Haydn Variations for two pianos (Op. 56b) are on ten tracks.

10. The Neue Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op. 65, are included in the main version for piano duet with vocal quartet as well as the version for piano duet without voices, Op. 65a.

11. The Romances and Songs, Op. 84, are included in two versions, one for solo voice and one for vocal duet. These pieces are indicated as being “for one or two voices.”

12. The Six Songs and Romances, Op. 93a, are followed by the Tafellied (the drinking glee), Op. 93b.

13. The 11 Zigeunerlieder (Gypsy Songs), Op. 103, are included in the quartet version as well as in Brahms’s arrangement of Nos. 1-7 and 11 for solo voice and piano.

14. Each of the clarinet sonatas, Op. 120 Nos. 1 and 2, is followed by the version for viola. Despite the descriptor as “clarinet sonatas,” the Zukerman/Barenboim recordings are the viola version.

15. Most of the works without opus number that have been given “WoO” numbers (German Werke ohne Opuszahl--Works without Opus Number) are in the playlist after the opus numbered works. The Hungarian Dances (WoO 1) are given in the original piano duet version, the first ten arranged for solo piano, and three arranged for orchestra. WoO 19 and 36-38 are not available on Spotify (only one recording exists of these, and it can only be obtained in a now out-of-print version of the Brilliant Classics Complete Edition).