Harriet Young & Henry Hecking
Johannes Brahms - Violin Sonata No. 1
Thank you to the Church of the Good Shepard in Nashua, NH for allowing us to use their space and recording equipment.
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) endured a miserable childhood. Born in a downtrodden area of Hamburg, he was by late childhood giving piano lessons for pennies and playing in bars frequented by sailors. A naturally gifted musician, he began a modest concert tour in his late teens, traveling mostly on foot. Around age 20, he was heard by Robert Schumann and his wife, Clara, who were so impressed that they took him into their home. This proved to be a pivotal point for Brahms, essentially launching his career.
By the time that Violin Sonata, No.1 was written (1879), Brahms was a mature musician. His students reported that prior to this violin sonata, he had written and destroyed 5 others with which he had not been fully pleased.
Henry Hecking enjoys playing the piano as a soloist and in chamber music settings in the New England area. Originally from Southern California, Henry received his degree in Music from the University of California, San Diego, emphasizing in Performance as well as Music Technology. He is also a violinist who enjoys playing in orchestras including the Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra, and has played in the La Jolla Symphony and the Mira Costa Symphony. Henry is particularly fond of the music of Brahms, Beethoven, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff.
Harriet Young enjoys playing violin and viola and has been with the Nashua Chamber Orchestra for 15 years. Orchestral and chamber music have been her passion. She has performed with the Waltham Symphony Orchestra and Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra. Summer chamber music camps include Wyoda, Kent, and Raphael Trio workshops. One of Harriet’s life’s goal is play Brahms, Beethoven, and Bach with her fellow musicians.