In September 1894, Johannes Brahms reflected on the reappearance of a melody from one of his early works. As early as the spring of that year, he had collected German folk songs, the last of which used the same melody as a movement in his first piano sonata. For Brahms, this connection represented a symbolic conclusion to his musical output.
For some time, Brahms had considered his work complete. After finishing his String Quintet in G major, Op. 111, in 1890, he doubted whether he would be able to create any further major compositions. Nevertheless, he surprised his friends when he wrote his will in Bad Ischl in 1891. His encounter with the clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld provided him with new inspiration, leading to the creation of works such as the Clarinet Trio and the Clarinet Quintet.
In Brahms's late compositions, an awareness of the finiteness of life is frequently evident. After Clara Schumann's death in 1896, he wrote eleven chorale preludes, all ending with "O Welt, ich muss dich lassen" (O World, I Must Leave You). The motif of descending thirds pervades many of his later piano pieces.
In the aftermath of the loss of close friends and acquaintances, such as his sister Elise and other prominent figures, Brahms found solace in his piano works. The collection "Fantasies," Op. 116, comprises three capriccios and four intermezzos, with the motif of descending thirds present in every piece.
Brahms described the "Three Intermezzos," Op. 117, as "Lullabies of My Sorrows." The first intermezzo is based on a Scottish poem, which underscores the work's delicate and melancholic mood. The keys and atmospheres of the three pieces are similar, conveying a distinct emotional tone.
The "Six Piano Pieces," Op. 118, differ from the preceding cycles in that they are titled "Ballade" and "Romance." In every piece, Brahms's great skill in handling form and expression is evident, often featuring key changes.
Even the early "Scherzo" Op. 4 in E-flat minor, which Brahms wrote in the summer of 1851 at the age of eighteen, reveals his individual style and his powerful compositional approach.