Johannes Brahms, Waltzes, Op. 39

Two quick waltzes from Brahms's opus 39, first published around 1865. Please ignore Wikipedia's editorializing. I'm the editorialist around here.

I know of three arrangements of this set — the original, a simplified version, and an arrangement for piano duo. Maybe there are more. Brahms arranged a large number of his works for two pianos* or piano duet, probably because he had many musical friends, or because he needed money (duet arrangements were hot sellers), or both. I went with the original.

In any case, this set of 16 waltzes doesn't see much light, except when the A-flat major warhorse serves its perennial purpose as an encore (and, sometimes concurrently, a lullaby). I chose the G-sharp minor to accompany it because it's a closely related key signature (G-sharp = A-flat) and because I like the transition right before the first repeat.

You'll recognize number 15 from pretty much everywhere.

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Waltzes, Op. 39
Composed 1864-5

III. G-sharp minor
XV. A-flat major

mp3 | note on recordings | sheet music

* Brahms's most successful ventures in this arena, I think, are the Haydn Variations, originally for full orchestra, and the F minor sonata, which began life as a string quintet and eventually became the great Piano Quintet.