Hungarian Dance No.5 in F# minor is the most famous work from the 2 collections of Brahms’ Hungarian Dances and based on the csárdás “Bartfai emlék” by Béla Kéler. It is an excellent movement to develop performance skills music particular in regard to tempo, dynamics & articulations often requiring an exaggerated approach. The musical style of the dances in these collections can be described as “style hongrois” characterised by heavy dramatic slow sections (lassan) contrasting with sudden intensely fast sections (friska). The Hungarian Dances WoO 1 are a collection of 21 dance melodies mostly based on Hungarian and gypsy melodies. Published in two sets in 1869 and 1880 they became Brahms most popular and most profitable published music scores. Brahms was introduced to Hungarian music in 1853 when he toured the country as an accompanist to the famous Hungarian violinist Ede Reményi. He was introduced to the csárdás and other local and gypsy melodies which he catalogued. Brahms original settings were arranged for piano duet although he arranged the first set of 10 dances for solo piano and No. 1, 3 & 10 for orchestra. Some of these arrangements are based on traditional melodies, others were composed by & Brahms himself contributed three. The playing of piano duets was very popular in the 19th century Schubert, Brahms, Dvorak & Bizet were all prolific composers of music for piano duet In the 19th century piano duets were the primary method that people became familiar with new large scale works such as symphonies & operas. Publishers released four hand piano arrangement of work which amateurs played at home The piano & the ability to play the instrument were symbols of middle class social mobility in 19th century Victorian & European societies and the playing of piano duets was socially acceptable providing opportunities for social interaction in a time of strict social etiquette In the 20th century the development of recording technology, broadcasting & later TV gave access to music & other entertainment.
