The Brahms sextets are amongst the most joyful and skilfully-written works of the Romantic chamber music repertoire. While his own voice as a composer can clearly be heard, outside influences from the great Classical era composers such as Schubert and Beethoven are also in evidence.
The second sextet was written around the time Brahms became close to a young singer called Agathe von Siebold, so close in fact that many of their acquaintances thought they would eventually marry. Brahms however refused to be tied down and Agathe broke off the relationship.
Near the end of the exposition of the first movement, the first and second violins together spell “Agathe” by playing the notes A-G-A-D-H-E, leading many to deem this work as dedicated to her. After completing the work Brahms wrote to a friend, “Here I have freed myself from my last love.”
Here is music from the Sextet number 2:
