Brahms early on engaged with the violin sonata genre. As early as 1853 he wrote a sonata in a minor, which - like so many other youthful works of this self-critical composer - no longer survives. Thus the G-major sonata op. 78, written in 1878/79, is now counted as his first contribution to the genre; it has the nickname “Regenlied Sonata” (literally “rain-song sonata”) because of the quotation from a song that appears in the finale. In summer 1886 Brahms composed, almost simultaneously, the two sonatas op. 100 and 108. All three works now have a firm place in the violinistic canon.

We round off our volume with the Scherzo in c minor that Brahms contributed to the so-called “F.A.E Sonata”, which he composed together with Robert Schumann and Albert Dietrich as a gift for violinist Joseph Joachim in 1853. With its stark contrast between the turbulent allegro and the emotional più moderato part, his scherzo has become a popular bravura and encore piece.

The present new edition is based on the New Brahms Complete Edition, and offers a musical text and commentary that have been revised according to the latest research. The fingering is by respective masters of their instruments Frank Peter Zimmermann and Martin Helmchen.

Michael Struck (Editor)

Bernd Wiechert (Editor)

Martin Helmchen (Fingering)

Frank Peter Zimmermann (Fingering and bowing for Violin)