J. BRAHMS – Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Händel, Op. 24 (1861) (Orch. N. Amir)

“It is a work that should easily enter into the orchestral repertory.”

“This was Brahms.”

 Why Change It?

In a conversation with composer Nahum Amir, who orchestrated Brahms’ Piano Variations on a theme by Handel, I learned that he does not care for orchestral transcriptions, extensions, arrangemnts in general, for he believes that “composers think of form, harmony, content, and tone color as an integral concept, so why change it?

There are exceptions of course, where the orchestral version has indeed enhanced the piece, while the original piano version stands on its own merits. A good example is the Ravel orchestration of Moussorgsky’s  ‘Pictures at an Exhibition.’

Mr. Amir must have been aware of his own arguments, for he suggests that the “Handel Variations virtually invite orchestral treatment” and what he has done with his orchestration is uncanny in that it does not inflate the chamber quality of the original but rather in genuine Brahmsian style lets ‘innate orchestral quality of the work’ emerge. And he has done this with incredible loyalty to Brahms, whose music he must know most intimately to have done so. This was Brahms”

“…the Orchestra played it, with warm, rich sound and sharply edged precision. It is a work that should easily enter into the orchestral repertory.”

 Boris Nelson (The Blade; Toledo, Ohio, USA)

A personal note:

When I was a conducting student in the Israel Music Academy in the Tel – Aviv University,  I had the luck to study under Dr. Nahum Amir. During those years I got to know him and his vast knowledge and his in depth acquaintance with the classical repertoire and in all the theory fields like harmony, counterpoint and orchestration. During my studies, I got the unusual chance to perform his orchestration to Brahms’ “Handel Variations” with the Music Academy Symphony Orchestra. During the process of preparing and studying the score, I recall long hours of conversations in front of the piano with Nahum, exploring, thinking questioning etc… Already from the beginning I was sure that this piece is a unique achievement and makes very powerful piece. After rehearsing and performing it, I know it is a great one. The public reaction to the piece and the performance was extraordinary.

Gil Raveh

click here for sound samples

For more information and inquiries regarding performing the piece please write to gil@gilraveh.com