Johannes Brahms twice chose a theme by his friend and mentor Robert Schumann as the basis for piano variations. While the Variations op. 9 were composed for piano solo, as an exception he wrote Opus 23 for a four-hand scoring. Its tender, chorale-like theme is particularly touching and was carefully chosen by Brahms: It was among Robert Schumann’s last musical thoughts, which the composer, already tormented by severe delusions, believed he heard from the voices of angels. The Variations, composed in 1861, end with a kind of funeral march and can be understood as a wistful farewell to his deceased friend. The musical text is based on the New Brahms Complete Edition, thus ensuring the highest accuracy and reflecting the most current state of research. Furnished with fingerings by Andreas Groethuysen, a proven specialist for the four-hand repertoire, this Urtext edition leaves nothing to be desired.
