Johannes Brahms(1833 — 1897)
Johannes Brahms
Allemagne, Hambourg
9 min read
German composer, pianist, and conductor (1833–1897). A major figure of Romanticism, he is the author of four symphonies, a German Requiem, and a considerable body of chamber music — a self-proclaimed heir to Beethoven and Bach.
Famous Quotes
« Ohne Handwerk keine Kunst. (Without craft, there is no art.) »
Key Facts
- Born on 7 May 1833 in Hamburg into a modest family.
- Championed and introduced to the world by Robert Schumann in 1853, who hailed him as a genius in the *Neue Zeitschrift für Musik*.
- Composed his German Requiem (*Ein deutsches Requiem*), premiered in 1868, a major choral work of the 19th century.
- Completed his First Symphony in 1876, after twenty years of work, nicknamed “Beethoven’s Tenth.”
- Died on 3 April 1897 in Vienna, leaving behind four symphonies, two piano concertos, a violin concerto, and a vast body of chamber music.
Works & Achievements
A monumental work for soloists, chorus, and orchestra set to biblical texts in German, premiered in Bremen in 1868. Composed in part following the death of his mother, this towering piece revealed Brahms to the world and remains one of the great landmarks of nineteenth-century choral repertoire.
Brahms's first published symphony, gestated over more than twenty years under the shadow of Beethoven. Dubbed "Beethoven's Tenth Symphony" by Hans von Bülow, it stands as one of the founding works of the Romantic symphonic repertoire.
Written for and with the violinist Joseph Joachim, this concerto is regarded as one of the four great violin concertos in the repertoire. Its harmonic richness and orchestral breadth make it an essential reference work.
An exceptional work in four movements — an unusual form for a concerto — running nearly fifty minutes. Brahms himself gave the premiere in Budapest; it is considered one of the most demanding piano concertos in the Romantic repertoire.
Brahms's symphonic testament, this fourth symphony closes with a passacaglia of unmatched austerity and grandeur. It synthesizes his Beethovenian inheritance and his admiration for the Baroque forms of Bach.
Two books of variations for solo piano on the theme of Paganini's Caprice No. 24. Formidable virtuosity and musical depth are combined here, making it one of the most difficult and most admired piano works of the nineteenth century.
A collection of dances for piano four hands inspired by Hungarian and Romani folk melodies discovered during tours with the violinist Eduard Reményi. They became popular worldwide, were orchestrated, and were performed in every European capital.
Anecdotes
In October 1853, composer Robert Schumann published in the *Neue Zeitschrift für Musik* an article titled "Neue Bahnen
(New Paths) in which he hailed the young Brahms
then twenty years old
as a genius destined to revolutionize music. This public recognition from such a respected figure instantly thrust Brahms into the European musical spotlight
while placing considerable pressure on him throughout his entire career.
Brahms waited forty-three years before publishing his First Symphony in 1876
haunted by Beethoven
s shadow. When someone pointed out the resemblance of the final theme to the Ode to Joy
he replied with irritation:
Any ass can see that." This retort illustrates both his caustic wit and his acute awareness of the legacy he carried.
Brahms was known for methodically destroying a large portion of his early works, which he deemed unworthy. It is estimated that he burned several string quartets, symphonic sketches, and countless scores before ever showing them to anyone. This extreme perfectionism explains why his catalogue, though rich, remains more limited than that of his contemporaries.
Brahms maintained a deep friendship and an intense correspondence with pianist Clara Schumann, wife and later widow of Robert Schumann, that lasted more than forty years. Although some historians have suggested an undeclared love, Brahms never married and watched over Clara as a devoted friend until her death in 1896. He himself died less than a year after her.
A regular at Viennese cafés, Brahms had his habits at several establishments where he would smoke cigars and discuss music. Conductor Hans von Bülow placed him, alongside Bach and Beethoven, among the "three Bs" of music — a phrase that immediately caught on. Brahms modestly appreciated the comparison while remaining aware of the weight it placed on him.
Primary Sources
He has come, a young man at whose cradle the Graces and Heroes seem to have kept watch. His name is Johannes Brahms. [...] Playing his sonatas, his quartets and fantasies, he rendered these things masterfully, and the piano became an orchestra of lamenting and jubilant voices.
I think of you constantly; you and your well-being matter to me more than anything. When I am away from Düsseldorf, I have but one wish — to return there, to your side.
I have no intention of publishing anything that does not fully satisfy me. The public can wait — my drawers are in no hurry, and I would sooner burn a piece than release something unworthy.
Brahms embodies what we call absolute music: a pure sonic architecture, independent of any literary programme. His First Symphony proves that the great Beethovenian form did not die with Beethoven.
Key Places
Brahms was born in 1833 in this working-class neighborhood of Hamburg, the son of a tavern musician. He received his musical training there and gave his earliest concerts, maintaining a deep attachment to his hometown throughout his life — a city that long denied him the post of musical director.
Brahms settled in Vienna in 1862 and lived there until his death in 1897. His apartment on Karlsgasse, in the 4th district, was the center of his creative and social life, cluttered with scores and the Steinway on which he composed.
It was in Bremen Cathedral that the complete premiere of the German Requiem took place in April 1868, establishing Brahms as one of the greatest composers of his time before an audience drawn from across Europe.
Brahms visited Baden-Baden on several occasions to see Clara Schumann, who lived there. This fashionable spa town, popular with the aristocracy, was a gathering place for the European musical elite.
Brahms spent many summers in Bad Ischl, in the Austrian Salzkammergut. It was in this alpine setting that he composed several of his late works, including the piano Intermezzi and the pieces for clarinet.