List of compositions by Johannes Brahms


The following is a list of compositions by Johannes Brahms, classified by genre and type of work.

Orchestral works

Symphonies

arr. for 2 pianos published 1891
arr. for 2 pianos 1884
arr. for 2 pianos 1887

Serenades

revised for chamber orchestra 1858 ;
revised and adapted for full orchestra 1858–59;
arr. for piano 4-hands 1859–60
revised 1875;
arr. for piano 4-hands 1875

Overtures

Other orchestral works

Piano concertos

two piano version 1855–56; revised 1859; r. for piano 4-hands 1864
middle two mvts arr. from the discarded middle two mvts of the original version of the Violin Concerto Op. 77;
arr. for 2 pianos 1881; cello solo theme of 3rd mvt arr. 1886 as a song Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer Op. 105 No. 2

Other concertos

original version's two discarded middle mvts incorporated into Piano Concerto No. 2 Op. 83; rr. for violin and piano 1878

Chamber works

Sonatas

Violin sonatas

Brahms' Scherzo published 1927

Cello sonatas

I–III: 1862
IV: 1865
3 mvt version arr. for viola and piano 1887

Clarinet sonatas

arr. for viola and piano 1895

Piano and strings

Piano trios

Piano quartets

Piano quintets

Clarinet

Horn

alternate versions: original ms specifies horn part may be played by cello; also later by viola

String ensembles

String trios

String quartets

String quintets

String sextets

arr. for piano 4-hands 1860–61

Keyboard works

Piano solo

Piano sonatas

the ms is entitled Sonata No. 4; as Op. 2 was written before this one, Brahms wrote two other Piano Sonatas prior to this that he destroyed

Variations

1. 1857
2. 1854
published 1927

Character pieces

Studies

Book 1:
1. 1852
2. 1862
Book 2:
authorship doubtful, possibly spurious, attributed to Brahms;
published 1927

Cadenzas

published 1927

Other piano works

theme used in Trio section of 2nd mvt Scherzo of Horn Trio Op. 40
formerly lost

Piano duo

Piano four-hands

published 1852
simplified arr. for piano solo 1865 ;
arr. for 2-pianos
Book 1:
Book 2:
arr. for piano solo in 1872;
Nos. 1, 3, 10 arr. for orchestra in 1873
published 1869
Book 3:
Book 4:

Two pianos

Organ

Vocal works

One voice

Art songs

1–2,4–5: 1852
3: 1853
6: 1851
Book 1:
Book 2:
1–4: 1861
5–6: 1862
1, 2, 4: 1868
3: 1859-60
5: 1858
1: 1859–62
2: 1853
3 & 6: 1859–60
4: 1868
5: 1858
7: 1867
1–5: 1868, 6: 1867
melody used in 4th mvt of Symphony No. 1 Op. 68
Book 3:
Book 4:
Book 5:
7: 1864
8: 1865
9: 1868
10: 1866
11,14–15: 1869
12–13: 1862
1: 1884
2: 1863
1–2, 5: 1886
3–4: 1888

Folksongs

Duets

Quartets

1: 1859
2: 1863
3: 1863
arr. for piano 4-hands in 1874 as Op. 52a;
arr. for voices and piano solo in 1875
arr. for piano 4-hands in 1875 as Op. 65a;
No. 4 arr. for solo voice and piano solo
1–2: 1888
3–6: 1891

Choral works

Liturgical works

2nd mvt taken from an abandoned piece written in 1854;
original version arr. for piano solo 1866;
new version arr. for piano 4-hands 1868;
new version arr. for soprano, baritone, mixed chorus, piano 4-hands 1871

Motets

1: 1877
2: 1863

Cantatas

Canons

mixed chorus arr. published 1872
1st version published 1927

Folksongs

1–3, 8–11: 13–14: 1857
4–7, 12: 1864
1–7: 1857–58
8–12: 1863–64

Other choral works

Book 1:
Book 2:
Nos. 5 & 6 arr. 4-part mixed chorus 1862 unpublished
1: 1859
2: 1860
3: 1861
No. 2 arr. for 4-part female chorus 1862 published 1938
published 1906
No. 7 arr. for soprano, mixed chorus
1–4: 1888
5: 1886–87

Miscellaneous