Brahms, Reger: Song Transcriptions

by Rudolf Buchbinder

Overview

The veteran pianist Rudolf Buchbinder is known best for Haydn and Mozart, but he has the kind of record that has earned him the right to do pretty much what he wants in later life. Here, he plays transcriptions of Brahms songs by Max Reger, items that most listeners will not have heard. Of course, on the one hand, transcriptions were part and parcel of the 19th century scene (although perhaps less so in the song genre); on the other, 28 of these things, deprived of the texts, may sound like a lot, but Buchbinder's program is interesting on the whole. He takes his Brahms songs chronologically, and this yields various insights. There are simple pieces from throughout Brahms' lied output, but most of these songs are not simple, and without the contrast provided by the voice, the listener's attention is directed toward the place of the melody line in a web of polyphony. Consider a song as straightforward as the Wiegenlied, Op. 49, No. 4, the so-called "Brahms Lullaby." There turns out to be plenty going on below, and often above, the melody, holding the listener's interest in a whole new way. The chronological organization gives the listener a unique window into the growing density of Brahms' late style. There is probably no way to know whether Schoenberg and the other members of the Second Viennese School, great admirers of Brahms, heard the masterful treatment of register in these transcriptions, but they certainly might have. A fine offbeat find for Brahms lovers, and indeed those of Reger. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	04/26/2024
Label:	Deutsche Grammophon
UPC:	0028948648429
Rank:	139824

Tracks

1. Liebestreu Op. 3/1
2. Der Schmied Op. 19/4
3. An die Nachtigall Op. 46/4
4. Sonntag Op.47/3
5. Am Sonntagmorgen Op. 49/1
6. An ein Veilchen Op. 49/2
7. Wiegenlied Op. 49/4
8. Minnelied Op. 71/5
9. Alte Liebe Op. 72/1
10. Sommerabend Op. 84/1
11. Vergebliches Ständchen Op. 84/4
12. In Waldeseinsamkeit Op. 85/6
13. Feldeinsamkeit Op. 86/2
14. Nachtwandler Op. 86/3
15. Über die Heide Op. 86/4
16. Sapphische Ode Op. 94/4
17. Der Jäger Op. 95/4
18. Der Tod, das ist die Kühle Nacht Op. 96/1
19. Wir wandelten Op. 96/2
20. Nachtigall Op. 97/1
21. Dort in den Weiden Op. 97/4
22. Wie Melodien zieht es mir Op. 105/1
23. Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer Op. 105/2
24. Auf dem Kirchhofe Op. 105/4
25. Ständchen Op. 106/1
26. Salamander Op. 107/2
27. Das Mädchen spricht Op. 107/3
28. Mädchenlied Op. 107/5

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Rudolf Buchbinder   Primary Artist,Piano

Technical Credits

Martin Kistner   Recording,Mastering Engineer
Max Reger   Transcription,Arranger
Philipp Nedel   Editing,Producer,Recording Producer
Johannes Brahms   Composer