An all-Brahms concert will take place in the Music Room at St James Cavalier, Valletta, on Friday at 8 p.m.

Works from all the periods of the composer’s life will be played by pianist Yoko Misumi, cellist Lucie Kucharova and violist Karl Mifsud.

The first work, Sonatensatz (originally for violin) was written by Brahms when he was only 19. It is the scherzo from the FAE Sonata composed in 1853 for Josef Joachim by Brahms, Schumann and Diedrich.

The second work is the Cello Sonata No.1 in E minor, Op. 38. It was written between 1862 and 1865. It is a homage to J.S. Bach and the principal theme of the first movement and the theme of the fugue of the last movement are based on Contrapunctus 4 and 13 of The Art of Fugue.

The Sonata Op.120 No.1 and the Trio Op.114 are from the final period of Brahms’ life. They are two of four works inspired by clarinettist Richard Muhlfeld. The other two works are the Sonata Op.120 No.2 and the Clarinet Quintet, Op. 115.

The Trio, Op. 114 is the climax of the concert. A persistent air of sadness pervades the first movement, also notable for archaic effects such as the inverted canon of the first movement’s second theme in the manner of Haydn, a composer whom Brahms revered.