III - Orchestration: Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904), Martin Schmeling & Albert Parlow (1822-1888) / Orchestra: North German Radio Symphony Orchestra
Home
Related:
Hungarian Dances (Brahms)
The Hungarian Dances (German: Ungarische Tänze) by Johannes Brahms (WoO 1), are a set of 21 lively dance tunes based mostly on Hungarian themes, completed in 1869. Only numbers 11, 14 and 16 are entirely original compositions. In fact, number 5 was based on the csárdás by Kéler Béla titled "Bártfai emlék" which Brahms mistakenly thought was a traditional folksong. They vary from about a minute to four minutes in length. They are among Brahms' most popular works, and were certainly the most profitable for him. Each dance has been arranged for a wide variety of instruments and ensembles. Brahms originally wrote the version for piano four-hands and later arranged the first 10 dances for solo piano. The most famous Hungarian Dance is No. 5 in F♯ minor (G minor in the orchestral version).
List of Hungarian Dances
Book 1. (Published in 1869)
1 In G minor: Allegro molto
2 In D minor: Allegro non assai - Vivace
3 In F major: Allegretto
4 In F minor (F♯ minor for orchestra): Poco sostenuto - Vivace
5 In F♯ minor (G minor for orchestra): Allegro - Vivace
Book 2. (Published in 1869)
6 In D♭ major (D major for orchestra): Vivace
7 In A major (F major for orchestra): Allegretto - Vivo
8 In A minor: Presto
9 In E minor: Allegro ma non troppo
10 In E major (F major for orchestra): Presto
Book 3. (Published in 1880)
11 In D minor: Poco andante
12 In D minor: Presto
13 In D major: Andantino grazioso - Vivace
14 In D minor: Un poco andante
15 In B♭ major: Allegretto grazioso
16 In F minor: Con moto
Book 4. (Published in 1880)
17 In F♯ minor: Andantino - Vivace
18 In D major: Molto vivace
19 In B minor: Allegretto
20 In E minor: Poco allegretto - Vivace
21 In E minor: Vivace
The Hungarian Dances bear many resemblances to, and may have influenced, the similarly profitable and popular Slavonic Dances of Antonín Dvořák.
Orchestrations
Brahms wrote orchestral arrangements for No. 1, No. 3 and No. 10. Other composers, including Antonín Dvořák, orchestrated the other dances. These composers were Andreas Hallén for No. 2, Paul Juon for No. 4, Martin Schmeling for Nos. 5 to 7, Hans Gál for Nos. 8 and 9, Albert Parlow for Nos. 11 to 16. Dvořák orchestrated the last numbers.
Brahms' Hungarian Dances were influential in the development of ragtime. See, for example, the role of German-American piano teacher Julius Weiss in ragtime composer Scott Joplin's early life and career.
This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Hungarian Dances (Brahms) .
