When Johannes Brahms came to Vienna, one of his supporters was the famous vocal coach and Lieder composer Josef Gänsbacher (1829-1911), who was also an amateur cellist.
In appreciation, Brahms dedicated a cello sonata he was working on to Gänsbacher, who was flattered and delighted, and when Brahms visited him, insisted on playing through the piece with the composer. In their progress through the piece, Brahms began playing very loudly, causing Gänsbacher to complain that he could not hear himself. “Lucky you,” Brahms replied to the overwhelmed amateur, and proceeded to play even louder.
This music is frequently played, and Brahms wrote to his publisher that the Sonata “is certainly not difficult to play.”
Here is this great music, performed by Ilan Rechtman, piano, and Alisa Weilerstein, Cello.
