Note 267 — Chapter XVI

It is to be understood that this is a purely personal interpretation and if any one wishes to consider the piece merely as absolute music with a strong masculine theme in the minor, a lyric melody in the major for the natural contrast, and a coda referring in a general way to the first theme, there is no way to disprove the contention. That Brahms, however, was not entirely averse to out and out programmistic treatment is seen from his two pieces on specific poetic texts, i.e., the first number in op. 10 on the Scottish Ballads of Edward and the Lullaby in op. 117 on the Scottish Folk-song Sleep Soft, My Child.