Brahms' Six Pieces, op. 118 arranged for oboe & piano [Digital Download]

If you’ve ever wished that Johannes Brahms wrote for solo oboe, look no further. This publication is an arrangement of three movements from Brahms’ widely beloved opus 118 for piano by Montréal-based oboist (and multi-instrumentalist) Jonathan Werk.

“I have tremendous respect for the music of Johannes Brahms. It is deep, introspective, wholly sincere, and it makes no effort to sell itself. In the modern world of fast-moving, attention-grabbing media, the music of Brahms is the complete opposite. While others might explode outwards with ever-increasing amounts of spectacle, bombast, or drama, Brahms remains steadfast and true, indifferent to the winds of fancy. Whenever I find myself questioning the meaning or purpose of art, I turn to Brahms for reassurance. In his symphonies and other orchestral pieces, I found his writing for oboe to be absolutely exquisite, but, alas, he never blessed us oboists with any chamber music or solo repertoire. For years, I have listened to the works of Brahms with the hope that I'd find some which would suit the instrument, and now I am excited to begin sharing them.”

We couldn’t have put it any better. Each movement is around five minutes, and they make excellent chamber works for a recital or encore. You can listen to Jonathan Werk's recording here:

Duration: 3 movements, approx. 5 minutes each