Brahms’ popular 16 “Waltzes”, opus 39, composed in 1866 for four hands, were transcribed by Brahms one year later for two hands. At the request of his publisher, Brahms also wrote an easier version of the work for solo piano. Brahms himself described the first version as suitable for "reasonable hands", that is for proficient players, and the easier version as "perhaps for prettier hands", that is, for domestic music-making. He initially described the latter version to his publisher as a "childr