Quoting Brahms biographer Karl Geiringer: “With this delightful work Brahms enters into the artistic spirit of the city of Schubert and Johann Strauss. The Viennese Ländler and waltzes predominate, but there is also a Hungarian note. It would be difficult to conceive that this joyous, carefree music was the work of the North German master, were it not for the last item, a more thoughtful and contemplative waltz in double counterpoint.”

The word ‘waltz’ is derived from the German word “walzen” which means to “turn about”. Its predecessors come from Southern Germany and Austria and by the late 18th century dominated as one of the most popular of dances in Europe.

Brahms had great respect for Johann Strauss Jr. At a party, Strauss’ wife asked Brahms for an autograph on her fan and he obliged by writing down the first few notes of her husband’s famous Blue Danube Waltz, then below those same notes wrote: “Unfortunately, not by me. J. Brahms.”

These waltzes, like so many others written by Brahms, represent him at his most lyrical. These are truly some of the most charming of piano works.