Brahms’s First String Sextet became very popular after its publication in 1861, yet his publisher Simrock still hesitated when the composer offered him a second such work in 1865, “in the same cheerful mood”. So Brahms made overtures to other publishers, but then Simrock finally agreed to take it on.

The critics were initially rather sceptical towards this Sextet op. 36, but Brahms’s friends thoroughly approved of it. Clara Schumann praised its accomplished motivic work, while others enthused...