BRAHMS : Four Hand Piano Music • 16 (Silke-Thora Matthies · Christian Köhn) (2006) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Although Brahms arranged many of his own works for piano, either played through to friends or published in this form for a wider public, he also turned his attention to the music of other composers. Brahms’ piano duet version of Schumann’s Piano Quintet is so effective that it almost rivals the original, criticised by some at the time for its overwhelming piano part. The transcription of his friend Joachim’s Hamlet Overture evokes all the drama of Shakespeare’s play. By arranging twenty Ländler for piano duet, Brahms was among those who helped to foster Schubert’s posthumous reputation. Naxos

R. Schumann - Piano Quartet in E-Flat Major, Op. 47 (arr. piano duet), Anh. Ia/8

J. Joachim - Hamlet Overture, Op. 4 (arr. piano duet), Anh. Ia/3

F. Schubert - 20 Ländler, D. 366 and D. 814 (arr. piano duet), Anh. Ia/6

Piano – Christian Köhn, Silke-Thora Matthies