Hungarian Dance no. 1 WoO 1

“What one has so long and so boisterously merely played, is awkward to write down.” With this charming self-irony, Johannes Brahms described the lively origins of his Hungarian Dances, whose rousing rhythms and fiery melodies continue to captivate to this day. Brahms’s friend, the violinist Joseph Joachim, made a congenial arrangement for violin and piano which combines consummate virtuosity with the magic of chamber music. With its spirited Allegro-molto opening, the Hungarian Dance no. 1 quickly became a crowd pleaser and has since travelled the world in numerous arrangements – reason enough to offer it also as an affordable single edition. With its spontaneous tempo changes and use of rubato, this lively dance provides ample scope for individual interpretation – a true celebration of the joy of playing!