This study examines various aspects of performance practices which pertain to Johannes Brahms’s Klavierstücke, Op. 118.  Not only does it consider general performance styles of the nineteenth century, but it explores Brahms’s position as a pianist and composer within that context, examines the details of his notation as it appears in modern editions, and describes the instruments which he owned and preferred.  Formal analysis and recognition of Brahms’s anachronistic use of small slurs show ways in which this composer’s music is unique among that of his contemporaries and dictates specific performance practices considerations.  Such analysis of the scores, in combination with an understanding of the early nineteenth-century Viennese instruments, first-hand accounts describing Brahms’s piano playing, and recognition of the peculiarities of Brahms’s notation, provides for the establishment of a set of prescriptive ideals for the performance of these late character pieces.
         Performance analysis of over fifty recordings of Op. 118 yields a descriptive account of a “living tradition” of Brahms playing, which is compared to the prescriptive ideals.  This analysis addresses the pianists’ treatment of tempo, articulation, dynamics, phrasing, counterpoint, pedal, rubato, expression markings, and character markings in each piece.  Conclusions show which artists’ performances most closely reflect an understanding of Brahms’s notation in the context of nineteenth-century performance practices.  Areas in which many pianists do not meet the prescribed ideals include the realization of articulative details and control of the dynamic range and thick texture of these pieces.  Finally, the study addresses issues regarding the desirability of stylistically-informed performances and sets forth a call for pianists to include specific information about recorded performances in liner notes and discographies (such as recording dates and locations, make of instrument on the recording, score consulted), so that recordings may better serve as scholarly documents in music study.

Afanassiev, Valery. 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117; 6 Klavierstücke, Op. 118; 4 Klavierstücke,   Op. 119. Denon: CO-75090. 1992.

Alexeev, Dmitri. Johannes Brahms: The Piano Pieces, Opp. 117, 118, 119. Angel: S-  37290. 1977.

Anderson, Mark. Klavierstücke, Opp. 118 & 119; Variations, Op. 21, nos. 1 & 2.    Nimbus: NI 5521. 1997.

Ax, Emanuel. Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24; Six Piano Pieces,   Op. 118; Two Rhapsodies for Piano, Op. 79. Sony Classical: SK 48046. 1992.

Backhaus, Wilhelm. Brahms: Hungarian Dances, Ballades, Intermezzi, Waltzes,    Rhapsodies, and Other Pieces. Magic Talent: CD 48042. 1997.  Recorded 1933.

________. Brahms Piano Recital. London: LL1637. 1959.

Badura-Skoda, Paul. Intermezzi, Op. 117; Klavierstücke, Opp. 118 & 119. Valois: V   6115. 1987.

Battista, Joseph. Brahms - Sonata in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 2; Six Pieces, Op. 118. MGM   Records: E3056. 1954.

Berkowitz, Paul. Brahms Piano Music, vol. 1. Meridian: CDE 84287. 1997.

Biret, Idil. Piano Pieces, Opp. 117, 118, 119. Naxos: 8.550354. 1991.

Brown, Stephanie. Klavierstücke, Op. 118. Musical Heritage Society: MHS 4200. 1980.

Ciccolini, Aldo. Intermezzi, Op. 117; Klavierstücke, Opp. 118, 119, and 76. Pathe: 2C   063 10611. 1969.

Cliburn, Van. My Favorite Brahms. RCA Red Seal: LSC 3240. 1971.
 Nos. 1, 2, 3, & 6.

Collard, Catherine. Catherine Collard joue Brahms: Rhapsodies Op. 79; Intermezzi Op.   117; Klavierstücke Op. 118. Lyrinx: LYR CD 092. 1990.

DeGroote, André. André DeGroote Plays Johannes Brahms, vol. 1. GHA: 126009.    1990.

Demus, Jörg. Demus Plays Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. Westminster: WMS-1004.    1965.

Donohoe, Peter. Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor; Piano Pieces, Op. 118. EMI: CDC 7   49934 2. 1990.

Edlina, Luba. The Complete Intermezzos. Chandos: ABTD 1177. 1986.
 Nos. 1, 2, 4 & 6.

Eibenschütz, Ilona. Pupils of Clara Schumann. Pearl: CLA 1000. 1986.  Recorded 1903.
 No. 3.

Friedberg, Carl. Live performance, Juilliard School, 2 August 1949. Recording courtesy   of International Piano Archives at Maryland.
 No. 3.

Gieseking, Walter. Walter Gieseking spielt Johannes Brahms. EMI Records: C 147-01   575/76. 1951.

Gould, Glenn. 4 Ballades, Op. 10; 2 Rhapsodies, Op. 79; 10 Intermezzi. CBS: SM2K   52651/52652. 1992.
 Nos. 1, 2, 4 & 6.

Grimaud, Heléne. Sonata No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 5; 6 Klavierstücke, Op. 118. Denon:   CO-79782. 1992.

Hokanson, Leonard. Intermezzi, Op. 117; Sechs Klavierstücke, Op. 118; Vier    Klavierstücke, Op. 119. Bayer: BR 100 035 CD. 1989.

Hungerford, Bruce. Johannes Brahms: Selected Short Piano Works. Vanguard: VSD-  71213. 1976.

Jones, Martin. Brahms: Paganini Variations; Waltzes; Hungarian Dances; Rhapsodies;   Klavierstücke; Fantasies. Nimbus Records: NI 1788. 1992.

Katchen, Julius. Brahms: The Complete Piano Works. London: CM 9396. 1966.

Kastelsky, Valery. Johannes Brahms: Opp. 116-119. Russian Compact Discs: RCD   16340. 1996.

Kempff, Wilhelm. Brahms: Six Piano Pieces. London: LPS 204. 1950.

________. Pieces for Piano. Deutsche Grammophon: 437 249-2. 1964.

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Kovacevich, Stephen. Brahms: Late Piano Music. Philips: 420 750-2. 1988.
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Lupu, Radu. Lupu Plays Brahms. London: CS 7051. 1978.

Lympany, Moura. Brahms Intermezzi. Classics for Pleasure: CFP 40066. 1974.
 Nos. 1, 2, 4 & 6.

Oppitz, Gerhard. Johannes Brahms: Klavierwerke. Eurodisc/BMG: 69247-2-RG. 1990.

Ortiz, Cristina. Piano Works, Opp. 116, 117, 118, 119. Collins Classics: 12362. 1992.

Piazzini, Carmen. Johannes Brahms: Piano Works. Arte Nova: 7432127766 2. 1995.

Richter, Sviatoslav. Bunte Blätter, Op. 99. Melodiya/Angel: SR-40238. 1973.
 Nos. 1, 3 & 6.

Rösel, Peter. Klavierwerke: Op. 1; Op. 118; Op. 4. Berlin Classics: 0090282BC. 1995.

Rubinstein, Arthur. Sonata No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 5. BMG Music: 09026-61862-2. 1987.   No. 5.  Recorded 1959.

________. Cello Sonatas; 5 Intermezzi. BMG Music: 09026-62592-2. 1995.
 Nos. 2 & 6.  Recorded 1953.

Rudy, Mikhail. Fantasien, Op. 116; 3 Intermezzi, Op. 117; Piano Pieces, Op. 118. EMI:   2704561. 1986.

Sebök, György. Liszt / Bartók / Brahms / Chopin / Debussy. Erato: 4509-98476-2. 1995.   Recorded 1960.

Seemann, Carl. Intermezzi, Ballades, Romances, Capriccios. Decca Records: DL 9667.   1953.

Sigrist, Pascal. Brahms: Late piano Works, vol. 1. Pavane Records: ADW 7107. 1983.

Silverman, Robert. Piano Music of Brahms. Musica Viva (Canadian Broadcasting    Corporation): MVCD 1028. 1987.

Södergren, Inger. Deux rhapsodies, Op. 79; Trois intermezzi, Op. 117; Six pièces, Op.   118. Calliope: CAL 1679. 1980.

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Zilberstein, Lilya. Paganini Variations, Op. 35; Intermezzi, Op. 117; Klavierstücke, Op.   118. Deutsche Grammophon: 431 123-2. 1990.

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Brahms, Johannes. Johannes Brahms Autographs: Facsimiles of Eight Manuscripts in the Library of Congress. New York: Garland Press, 1983.

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________. Klavierstücke, Op. 118. Edited by Monica Steegmann. Munich: G. Henle, 1977.

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________. “Was Brahms a Reliable Editor?” Acta Musicologica 61/1 (Jan-Apr 1989): 83-  101.
 

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Davies, Fanny. “Some Personal Recollections of Brahms as Pianist and Interpreter.” In Cobbett’s Cyclopedic Survey of Chamber Music, ed. Walter Willson Cobbett, 182-  184. London: Oxford University Press, 1929.

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Finson, Jon W. “Performing Practice in the Late Nineteenth Century, with Special  Reference to the Music of Brahms.” Musical Quarterly 70 (1984): 457-75.

Frisch, Walter, ed. Brahms and His World. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1990.

________. “Brahms’s Late Piano Works: Explorations in Musical Space.” American Brahms Society Newsletter 9/2 (Fall 1991): 1-4.

Good, Edwin M. Giraffes, Black Dragons, and Other Pianos: A Technical History.  Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1982.

Hicks, David. “Chronicles: Opus 118 #6 of Brahms.” Ph.D. diss., Princeton University, 1981. Ann Arbor: University Microfilms International, 1981.

Hinson, Maurice. “Brahms as Editor.” Journal of the American Liszt Society 14 (1983):30-42.

Hopkins, Antony. “Brahms: Where Less is More.” In Nineteenth-Century Piano Music; Essays in Performance Practice, ed. David Witten. New York: Garland    Publishing, 1997.

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Miller, Lynus Patrick. “From Analysis to Performance: The Musical Landscape of Johannes Brahms’s Op. 118, No. 6.” Ph.D. diss., University of Michigan, 1979.

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________. “The Most Unwitting Foes of the Romantic Piano May Be Those Well-intentioned Curators Who Lend Their Instruments for Recording Sessions.” Early   Music 12 (1984): 3-25.