German-born composer Johannes Brahms is a representative composer of
the 19th century Romantic Era. He has left numerous masterpieces in
various genres including piano works, symphonies, songs, concertos and
chamber music. In particular, chamber music...
German-born composer Johannes Brahms is a representative composer of
the 19th century Romantic Era. He has left numerous masterpieces in
various genres including piano works, symphonies, songs, concertos and
chamber music. In particular, chamber music plays a big part in his
work. He left behind 24 chamber music pieces in his lifetime which did
not actively use wind instruments. While string instruments are
frequently used for chamber music, Brahms used only clarinet and horn
among many wind instruments. There are four chamber works including
clarinet; Clarinet Trio, Op. 114, Clarinet Quintet, Op. 115, and Clarinet
Sonata No. 1, 2, Op. 120.
Clarinet Sonata No. 1, Op. 120, which is covered in thesis, is a work
completed by Brahms in his late years, adhering to the traditional
Sonata form with four movements. For the establishment of theoretical
background, the author first examines the composer's life and musical
characteristics and examines the late and disability theories behind
the musical characteristics of Brahms' late years. Based on this, the
first movement of Clarinet Sonata No. 1, Op. 120 will be analyzed to
examine the meaning of exceptional and unique features featured in the
late Brahms works.
The 1st Movement of Clarinet Sonata No. 1, Op. 120 shows musical
features based on the late and disability. The sudden deterioration of
health and the absence of loved ones cause changes in the musical
atmosphere. Unlike before, simple and concise points are revealed in
the first movement, which is motivated by events that caused Brahms'
physical changes and mental shocks beyond the alienation or depression
that humans generally feel as they approach death.
Beyond the understanding of the igneous and structural features of
ordinary Brahms music, it expands the understanding of the work by
closely identifying the situation faced by composer at a particular
time based on late-style. It also aims to give the performer an in-depth
understanding and idea of the work through various interpretation of the
Clarinet Sonata composed by Brahms in his late years.