Brahms: Sonatensatz (Scherzo from the F.A.E. sonata), WoO 2

'Sinfonia in B' is Joseph Swensen’s orchestration of the little-known original version of Brahms’ B major piano trio. In Swensen’s own words: “Completed in 1854, it is the largest and arguably the most important of Brahms’ published early works, yet it remains nearly unknown to most musicians and music-lovers alike … The original Opus 8 is, for me, intriguing for many reasons. Not only is it a work of extraordinary quality and emotional depth, written by a composer just 21 years of age, but it is a quintessential example of Brahms’ ultra-romantic and forward looking early style.”

This disc also explores the young Brahms’ connection with Robert and Clara Schumann, with orchestrations and performances (as a violin soloist) by Swensen of miniature works by both composers – as well as extracts from the ‘F-A-E’ sonata, a joint composition by Brahms, Robert Schumann and Joseph Joachim based on the motto ‘Frei aber einsam’ / ‘free but lonely’ – Joachim’s personal motto.

Tasmin Little’s formidable technical ability and gift for interpretation are unmistakable in this collection of showpieces. Displaying her brilliant virtuosity and captivating lyricism, and including her own witty Tchaikovskiana, written in collaboration with John Lenehan, these works highlight Little’s breathtaking skill as a performer.

The outstanding artist Arabella Steinbacher has chosen the Brahms Violin Sonatas for her most recent release. Her previous CD of the Bartók Concertos (PTC 5186350) received excellent reviews “a fearsomely talented violinist.” Telegraph; Gramophone Editor’s Choice; BBC Music Magazine 5* Recording

Friends with Mendelssohn, the Schumanns, Brahms, Dvorák, Liszt, Bruch, and others, Joachim was a revered violinist, conductor, and composer of the Romantic Era. The central piece is Bruch’s Violin Concerto, its violin part completely reworked, at Bruch’s request, by Joachim into the form we know today. Daniel Hope plays the concerto with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra under Sakari Oramo.

Violinist Rudens Turku presents his fifth album for Avie, Sweet Remembrance, a personal selection of virtuoso miniatures and encores.

Since making his recording debut for Avie in 2005 with the sonatas of Brahms, Franck and Schumann (AV2080), Albanian-born, Munich-resident violinist Rudens Turku has amassed a devoted following and fan base for his effortless virtuosity and innate musicianship.

Following albums devoted to solo works, duos, and concertos, Rudens returns with a personal selection of miniatures and encores for violin and piano. Sweet Remembrance – the subtitle of Jascha Heifetz’s arrangement of Mendelssohn’s Song without Words - ranges from the romantic Salut d’amour by Elgar, Schön Rosmarin by Kreisler and Massenet’s Meditation from Thaïs, to the energetic Scherzo from Brahms’ F-A-E Sonata and Shostakovich’s exhilarating Preludium. Interspersed with miniature masterpieces by great violinist-composers such as Paganini, Sarasate, Kreisler and Wienawski, the album boldly concludes with Ysaÿe’s commanding Second Sonata, itself written in remembrance of another great violinist, Jacques Thibaud.

Cellist Zuill Bailey's 2010 recording of J.S. Bach's Suites for Solo Cello (TEL3197802) went straight to the top of the Billboard classical chart. His new Telarc album is devoted to the music of Brahms, and includes the Sonatas in E minor, opus 38 and F major, opus 99 alongside several rarely-recorded song transcriptions. Bailey’s musical partner here is his longtime friend, the pianist Awadagin Pratt.

Zuill Bailey made his Telarc debut with Russian Masterpieces for Cello early in 2009, a disc which featured music by Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich. Towards the end of last year he joined forces with pianist Simone Dinnerstein in a critically acclaimed recording of Beethoven’s Complete Works for Piano and Cello. Since then his recording of J S Bach’s cello suites has been a massive success particularly in the USA where it spent four weeks in a row at No. 1 on the Billboard classical chart, and even made the Top 30 in the New Artists chart.

Along with Brahms’ Cello Sonatas in E Minor and F Major, the album includes the composer’s “Sonatensatz”, the so-called “F-A-E Scherzo”, which comes from a collaborative violin sonata composed by Brahms, Robert Schumann and fellow composer Albert Dietrich. It is heard here transcribed for the cello from the violin original. Also featured on the disc are transcriptions for cello and piano of seven of his songs including the ever-popular "Wiegenlied" (Lullaby), "Melodien," "Sapphische Ode" (Sapphic Ode), "Feldeinsamkeit" (Solitude in the Fields), "Minnelied" (Love Song) and "Lerchengesang" (Lark Song).