The three popular Intermezzi op. 117 can be considered the epitome of Brahms's later works for piano. Clara Schumann confessed: “In these pieces, I finally feel the musical life awakening in my soul once again.” Brahms reacted, as he often did, in a rather abrupt manner. Although he described the three Intermezzi as “Wiegenlieder” (lullabies), he officially...