Following his 2017 10-disc recording of the complete Beethoven piano sonatas, pianist Steven Masi turns his talents to two works by Brahms, each one followed by its own companion piece by composers Robert Chumbley and Jonathan Cziner, respectively...

Brahmsiana employs the emotive power of solo piano, performed by Steven Masi. The album consists of 4 works (16 tracks - 1 hr, 18 min, 17 sec) and is a mix of original Brahms compositions and new works by modern composers that are inspired by Brahms's work.

The album opens with Brahms’s '3 Intermezzi, Op. 117'. This is followed by composer Robert Chumbley’s 'Brahmsiana II' which combines the Brahmsian DNA of 'Op. 117' to give us a totally new perspective. Brahms’s 'Six Klavierstucke, Op. 118' is followed by 'Echoes of Youth' by Jonathan Cziner.

To those not overly familiar with the work of Brahms, Brahmsiana is a delightful collection of piano based pieces. To those who have long studied the composer's work, this album invites them to rediscover some of his compositions again, while also experiencing new works that sing with the spirit of the great composer.

Track listing:

Johannes Brahms
3 Intermezzi, Op 117
01 - No 1 in E flat Major (6:31)
02 - No 2 in B flat Minor (6:24)
03 - No 3 in C sharp Minor (7:50)

Robert Chumbley
Brahmsiana II
04 - No 1: Intermezzo (5:05)
05 - No 2: Intermezzo (Scherzo) (7:03)
06 - No 3: Intermezzo (5:19)

Johannes Brahms
Six Klavierstucke, Op 118
07 - No 1: Intermezzo in A Minor (2:24)
08 - No 2: Intermezzo in A Major (6:46)
09 - No 3: Ballade in G Minor (3:48)
10 - No 4: Intermezzo in F Minor (3:19)
11 - No 5: Romance in F Major (4:58)
12 - No 6: Intermezzo in E Flat Minor (6:51)

Jonathan Cziner
Echoes of Youth
13 - Romance (3:49)
14 - Intermezzo - Frei Aber Froh (1:57)
15 - Ballade (3:30)
16 - Intermezzo - Frei Aber Einsam (2:49)

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Darren Rea