Hungarian Dances

For the "Hungarian folkloric dances", see Hungarian dance.

The Hungarian Dances (German: Ungarische Tänze) by Johannes Brahms (WoO 1), are a set of 21 lively dance tunes based mostly on Hungarian themes. Only numbers 11, 14 and 16 are entirely original compositions. In fact, number 5 was based on the csárdás by Kéler Béla titled "Bartfai emlek" which Brahms mistakenly thought was a traditional folksong.^[1] They vary from about a minute to four minutes in length. They are among Brahms' most popular works, and were certainly the most profitable for him. Each dance has been arranged for a wide variety of instruments and ensembles. Brahms originally wrote the version for piano four-hands and later arranged the first 10 dances for solo piano. The most famous Hungarian Dance is No. 5 in F♯ minor (G minor in the orchestral version).

List of Hungarian Dances

[[Image:Johannes Brahms - Ungarischer Tanz 5 g-moll.ogg|Hungarian Dance No. 5 in G minor]] performed by the Fulda Symphonic Orchestra conducted by Simon Schindler Hungarian Dance No. 5 in F-sharp Minor, Piano 4 hands File:Hungarian Dance 4 hands.mid Hungarian Dance No. 5 in F-sharp minor, piano 4 hands. Created using Sibelius 5. Hungarian Dance No. 6 in D major performed by the Fulda Symphonic Orchestra conducted by Simon Schindler Hungarian Dance No. 5 Arthur Nikisch plays for Welte-Mignon on February 9, 1906

Problems listening to these files? See media help.

• No. 1 in G minor: Allegro molto
• No. 2 in D minor: Allegro non assai
• No. 3 in F major: Allegretto
• No. 4 in F minor (F♯ minor for orchestra): Poco sostenuto
• No. 5 in F♯ minor (G minor for orchestra): Allegro
• No. 6 in D♭ major (D major for orchestra): Vivace
• No. 7 in A major (F major for orchestra): Allegretto
• No. 8 in A minor: Presto
• No. 9 in E minor: Allegro non troppo
• No. 10 in E major (F major for orchestra): Presto
• No. 11 in D minor: Poco andante
• No. 12 in D minor: Presto
• No. 13 in D major: Andantino grazioso
• No. 14 in D minor: Un poco andante
• No. 15 in B♭ major: Allegretto grazioso
• No. 16 in F minor: Con moto
• No. 17 in F♯ minor: Andantino
• No. 18 in D major: Molto vivace
• No. 19 in B minor: Allegretto
• No. 20 in E minor: Poco allegretto
• No. 21 in E minor: Vivace

The Hungarian Dances bear many resemblances to, and may have influenced, the similarly profitable and popular Slavonic Dances of Antonín Dvořák.

Orchestrations

Brahms wrote orchestral arrangements for No. 1, No. 3 and No. 10. Other composers, including Antonín Dvořák, orchestrated the other dances. These composers were Johan Andreas Hallén for No. 2, Paul Juon for No. 4, Martin Schmeling for Nos. 5 to 7, Hans Gál for Nos. 8 and 9, Albert Parlow for Nos. 11 to 16. Dvořák orchestrated the last numbers.

Brahms' Hungarian Dances were influential in the development of ragtime.^[2] See, for example, the role of German-American piano teacher Julius Weiss in ragtime composer Scott Joplin's early life and career.

See also

• Panna Czinka, Márk Rózsavölgyi
• Hungarian Rhapsodies (Franz Liszt)
• Ede Reményi
• Fritz Simrock

References

External links

• Hungarian Dances for four hands: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project.