Brahms was an accomplished pianist, whose output for the piano spanned his entire life. In addition to his solo works he made four-hand piano arrangements of many of his orchestral, chamber and vocal scores, to give them greater accessibility. The piano reductions of the Four Symphonies, at one time the only sure means for hearing the works, are amazingly convincing in conveying the serenity, lyricism and massive grandeur that characterise the originals. A reduction for one piano, four hands, of the symphonies can be heard on Naxos 8.554117, 8.554119 and 8.554822.