11 Chorale Preludes

Historical context

Brahms, in 1896, spoke of musical ideas that he kept private, mentioning “other less compromising things, which are, however, not suitable for publication,” that he would have liked to share at the piano. These pieces, kept from public view during his lifetime, are thought to be the posthumously published Choralvorspiele for organ. This collection offers a glimpse into his more personal musical reflections, perhaps intended for a more intimate setting than the public stage.

Drawn from Brahms, Johannes, 1833-1897, Johannes Brahms ; the Herzogenberg correspondence (1909) — public domain, archive.org.