Clarinet Sonata no. 2 in E flat major, op. 120 no. 2
The Clarinet Sonatas, Op. 120, Nos. 1 and 2, are a pair of works written for clarinet and piano by the Romantic composer Johannes Brahms. They were written in 1894 and are dedicated to the clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld.
The sonatas stem from a period late in Brahms's life where he discovered the beauty of the sound and tonal colour of the clarinet. The form of the clarinet sonata was largely undeveloped when Brahms wrote his, after which the combination of clarinet and piano was more readily used in composers’ new works. These were the last chamber pieces Brahms wrote before his death and are considered two of the great masterpieces in the clarinet repertoire. Brahms also produced a frequently performed transcription of these works for viola with alterations to better suit the instrument.
Movements
- Allegro amabile
- Allegro appassionato - Sostenuto - Tempo I
- Andante con moto - Allegro - Più tranquilo
Most recent recordings
- Sonata for Clarinet (Viola) and Piano No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 120/2 (Version for Violin and Piano) — Johannes Brahms, Fulvio Luciani, Massimiliano Motterle (2026) Spotify
- Clarinet Sonata in E-flat Major, Op. 120, No. 2 : I. Allegro Amabile (Clarinet Choir Version) — Johannes Brahms, Donovan Perreault (2024) Spotify
- Brahms: Sonata for Clarinet and Piano No. 2 in E-Flat Major, Op. 120 No. 2: II. Allegro appassionato — Johannes Brahms, Nicolas Baldeyrou, Geoffroy Couteau (2024) Spotify
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