Dear Herr Brahms

First up, lets just get out of the way that I LOVE YOU! You found me and took my brightest of days and rejoiced with me, you took my darkest of days and gently pulled me through, you took my heartache and made it sing, and you've kept me sane the past 2 years... without you (specifically Symphony 4 and Op. 116), I'm not sure where I'd be and what I'd be like. Doesn't bear thinking about.

BUT.


Just what were you thinking here?! You give me this lovely melody with these beautiful rich harmonies... made up of so many notes and wide chords that I can hardly play them all without hitting wrong notes and drowning out the tune! Curses to you!

But otherwise, Op. 116 is coming along ok... the first one's a bit odd, no? Structurally speaking. The second's my favourite, except that number 3 is my favourite (when I can play all those notes!). But then again, number 4 is my favourite... and so is number 6. Number 5 is weird, mate. Really odd. I'm going to analyse the heck out of it soon, though, so maybe I won't think it's so weird. But I'd rather that my analysis proves that you were closer to atonality than everyone lets on, prove old Schoenberg right that you were a progressive! And number 7, well, it's a riot... I love it but it's easy to get carried away. And when I play it, it's so loud... I kind of physically block my ears most of the time. Not with my hands, obviously. Though that would solve the volume. I don't really understand how I do it, I just kind of tense up my ears and make everything fuzzy and quieter... anyway, you don't need to know about all that now. I have 2 weeks to go to get it all ready (along with the Bach and the Beethoven), wish me some luck from up there!

Danke,

Hannah