Brahms' Hungarian Dances

Completed in 1869 and among Brahms' most popular works, the twenty-one (German: Hungarian Dances Ungarische Tänze) are lively dance tunes based mostly on Hungarian themes. Brahms originally wrote these pieces for piano four-hands, and later arranged the first ten for solo piano. Only numbers 11, 14 and 16 are entirely original compositions. Brahms' Hungarian Dances have been arranged for a wide variety of instruments and ensembles, and they were influential in the development of ragtime.

Number 5 is the most famous of his twenty-one Hungarian Dances. The piece is based on Kéler Béla's folk dance Bártfai Emlék, which Brahms mistakenly thought was a traditional folksong.

Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897), was a great German composer, virtuoso pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. He wrote for piano, chamber ensemble, symphony orchestra, and for voice and chorus. He was a traditionalist and an innovator, as well as an inspiration for subsequent composers. His output includes masterpieces of Beethovenian power, of subtle emotion, and of great beauty. The music of Johannes Brahms is one of humanity's greatest treasures.

Tutorials

Sheetmusic for No. 4 and No. 5 Original Versions

  • imslp.org

  • Masterpieces of Piano Music book (No. 5)