Johannes Brahms, the bearded and magisterial Romantic composer, could certainly do grandeur when required. But really, he was more interested in what music meant in ordinary life - how it can whisper, joke and console. He was a man who tried to find a place to belong all his life, wrote for the people closest to him, and that fondness is writ large in his music. This week, Kate Molleson focuses on Brahms at home, revealing the subtle sides of this sometimes brawny composer – the tender heart behind the famous beard - through the music he wrote for himself and his friends to play.

Music Featured:

Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op 52a No 1Ballade in G minor, Op 118 No 2Sandmännchen WoO 31, No 4 (Children’s Folk Songs)Scherzo in E flat minor, Op 4An die Nachtigall, Op 46 No 4Vier Gesänge für Frauenchor, Op 17Piano Quartet No 1 in G minor Op 25 (3rd mvt – Andante)Einförmig ist der Liebe Gram, Op 113 No 13Sonata in C major (4th mvt)FAE Sonata (3rd mvt – Scherzo)Piano Trio, Op 8 (3rd mvt – Adagio)Geistliches Lied, Op 30Intermezzo, Op 117 No 2Sextet No 2 (1st mvt – Allegro non troppo)Waltz in A flatSix Quartets, Op 112 (No 1, Sehnsucht)Piano Quartet No 2 in A major (3rd mvt – Scherzo)Ein Deutsches Requiem: Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen; Ihr habt nun TraurigkeitGeistliches WiegenliedPiano Concerto No 2 (3rd mvt - Andante)Wiegenlied, Op 49 No 4Romance in F major, Op 118 No 5String Quintet in F (1st movement)Wie Melodien zieht es mir; Immer leiser wird mein SchlummerViolin Sonata in A major (1st mvt)Clarinet Quintet (1st movement)Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op 52: Ein kleiner hübscher VogelHungarian Dance in D major, WoO1 No 18Wo ist ein so herrlich Volk, Op 109 No 3Denn es gehet dem Mennschen (Serious Songs, Op 121 No 1)Intermezzo in E flat major, Op 117 No 1Intermezzo in B minor, Op 119 No 1Piano Trio No 1 (1st mvt – Allegro con brio)Double Concerto for violin and cello (2nd mvt – Adagio)Intermezzo in A major, Op 118 No 2

Presented by Kate MollesonProduced by Amelia Parker for BBC Audio Wales and West

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xvy4

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z