In 1892, Brahms wrote 3 Intermezzi for piano which have been described as pieces of a personal character with a dreaming and sorrowful side and express Brahms' latest stage of creativity. They were written with Brahms having in mind Clara Schumann (Robert Schumann's wife and one of the best pianists of her time and a composer herself), his great and unaccomplished love. According to Brahms' biographer, Walter Niemann, the second intermezzo was written to portray "a man as he stands with a bleak, gusty autumn wind eddying around him" which is probably Brahms himself in his 50s. Behind the tranquility and romanticism of the music there is the impression of pain and longing for the past.
Brahms sent each newly written intermezzo to Clara Schumann, as she was still a very good friend and a judge of his work. After playing the music, Clara Schumann noted "In these pieces I at last feel musical life stir once again in my soul".
Suggested title for this piece: "Longing for the past".