Johannes Brahms

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born 7 May 1833

Hamburg
Died 3 April 1897 (aged 63)

Vienna
Occupations
  • Composer
  • conductor
  • pianist
Works List of compositions

Johannes Brahms (/brɑːmz/; German: [joˈhanəs ˈbʁaːms]; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor of the mid-Romantic period. His music is rooted in the structures and compositional techniques of his Classical (and earlier) forebears, including Ludwig van Beethoven and Johann Sebastian Bach. His compositions include four symphonies, four concertos, a Requiem, and many songs, amongst other music for symphony orchestra, piano, organ, voices, and chamber ensembles. They remain a staple of the concert repertoire.

Brahms is a composer who explores profound emotional depths, both in the monumental sonatas of his youth and in the gentle miniatures of his old age. But the power of his music also lies in its magnificent architecture and sense of development. His streak of nostalgic sadness came partly from thwarted love, and partly from his sense of being alone in upholding the Classical tradition. Thus, already his contemporaries spoke of the “three great B:s” – meaning Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms.

See other composers :

  1. Felix Blumenfeld
  2. Ludwig van Beethoven
  3. Ferdinand Beyer
  4. Charles-Valentin Alkan
  5. Matthew Camidge

Top Pieces:

Intermezzo in E-flat Major, Op. 117 No. 1

The tender, dreamy main theme of this Intermezzo sounds like something a parent could sing for a child at bedtime.
Intermezzo Op. 117 No. 1 in E-flat Major by Brahms piano sheet music

Intermezzo in A Major, Op. 118 No. 2

This lyrical, moving, nocturne-like Intermezzo pulls us into a world of dreamy nostalgia and quiet longing. It sways tenderly like a lullaby, with the typical Brahmsian sophisticated web of inner voices.
Intermezzo Op. 118 No. 2 in A Major by Brahms piano sheet music

Rhapsody in G Minor, Op. 79 No. 2

This Big Romantic Piece has it all: a tragic but proud mood, sweeping gestures, mysterious harmonies, and shattering climaxes.
Rhapsody Op. 79 No. 2 in G Minor by Brahms piano sheet music

Hungarian Dance 5 – solo piano version

Already as a teenager, Brahms was fascinated by the music of the Roma people. When he published his brilliant arrangements of Roma tunes, the success was immediate and phenomenal.
Hungarian Dance 5 - solo piano version in F-sharp Minor by Brahms piano sheet music

Piano Concerto 1 in D Minor, Op. 15

This gigantic and powerful work drew its sad inspiration from the attempted suicide of Brahms’ friend Robert Schumann. The music veers between cataclysmic outbursts and soothing, dreamlike passages, until the finale emerges confidently into the sunlight.
Piano Concerto 1 Op. 15 in D Minor by Brahms piano sheet music

Biography

 

There are many stories of Johannes Brahms´s (1833-1897) prickliness, sarcasm and tactlessness – but it would be equally true to describe him as a generous and kind man. Achieving considerable wealth in later years, he never spent it on himself, but helped his family as well as younger composers. A voracious reader throughout his life, he ended up with a well-used library of over 800 titles including poetry, fiction, drama, history, art, philosophy, religion and travel. Growing up in simple circumstances, Brahms gave piano lessons and played popular music at private gatherings and in restaurants. All youthful efforts to compose fell victim to his intense self-scrutiny. A turning point came in 1853 when Brahms met Robert and Clara Schumann. Robert hailed Brahms as the true musician of the future in a famous essay (“Neue Bahnen”) of the same year. After Robert´s nervous breakdown and suicide attempt Brahms gave up everything he was doing to assist Clara, developing a strong romantic passion for her, while she probably viewed him more as a devoted son.

When Robert died Brahms and Clara went their separate ways, nevertheless remaining the closest of friends. Brahms went through a period of depression and low productivity, but renewed studies of counterpoint and early music enabled a glorious comeback in the 1860s with a series of chamber works (incl. string sextets, piano quintet, piano quartets) and piano pieces (Handel variations and Paganini variations). The critical acclaim of his German Requiem, written after his mother’s death, established Brahms as a major composer, but he still struggled to master the string quartet and the symphony. Not until he was 40 did he complete the first two quartets (Op. 51) that he considered worthy of publication; three years later came the Symphony no.1 in C minor, which had occupied him for at least fifteen years.

A steady stream of mature orchestral works followed, among them three more symphonies and the second piano concerto. By 1890 Brahms was ready to retire from composing, but meeting the clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld started a surge of creativity that enriched the repertory for that instrument remarkably, with two sonatas (Op.120), one trio (Op. 114) and one quintet (Op.115). In his later years Brahms condensed his musical thought almost to the extreme. Examples of this compact and forward-looking style are the piano pieces Opp. 116-119, and the last piece Brahms published, Vier ernste Gesänge, written in connection with the death of Clara Schumann.

 

Quotes by Brahms

“Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.”

“It is not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table.”

“If there is anyone here I have failed to insult, I beg his pardon”

Quotes about Brahms

“I can truly say, my children, that I have never loved a friend as I loved him; it is the most beautiful mutual understanding of two souls. I do not love him for his youthfulness, nor probably for any reason of flattered vanity. It is rather his elasticity of spirit, his fine gifted nature, his noble heart that I love” (Clara Schumann)

“He is the most wanton of composers […] Only his wantonness is not vicious; it is that of a great baby […] rather tiresomely addicted to dressing himself up as Handel or Beethoven and making a prolonged and intolerable noise.”(George Bernard Shaw)

Most popular pieces:
Intermezzo Op. 117 No. 1 E-flat Major 1892 8
Intermezzo Op. 118 No. 2 A Major 1893 8+
Rhapsody Op. 79 No. 2 G Minor 1880 8
Hungarian Dance 5 – solo piano version F-sharp Minor 1872 8+
Piano Concerto 1 Op. 15 D Minor 1859 8+

All pieces:

Concertos
Piano Concerto 1 Op. 15 D Minor 1859 8+
Piano Concerto 2 Op. 83 B-flat Major 1881 8+

Sonatas
Sonata 1 Op. 1 C Major 1853 8+
Sonata 2 Op. 2 F-sharp Minor 1853 8+
Sonata 3 Op. 5 F Minor 1854 8+

Variations
Variations on a theme by Robert Schumann Op. 9 F-sharp Minor 1854 8+
Theme and Variations Op. 18 b D Minor 1855 8
Variations on an Original Theme Op. 21 No. 1 D Major 1857 8+
Variations on a Hungarian Song Op. 21 No. 2 D Major 1856 8+
Variations on a Theme by R Schumann – for four hands Op. 23 E-flat Major 1863 8+
Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel Op. 24 B-flat Major 1861 8+
Paganini Variations – Book 1 Op. 35 A Minor 1866 8+
Paganini Variations – Book 2 Op. 35 A Minor 1866 8+
Variations on a Theme by Haydn – for two pianos Op. 56 b B-flat Major 1873 8+

Hungarian Dances (four hands)
Hungarian Dance 1 G Minor 1869 8
Hungarian Dance 2 D Minor 1869 8+
Hungarian Dance 3 F Major 1869 8
Hungarian Dance 4 F Minor 1869 8
Hungarian Dance 5 F-sharp Minor 1869 8
Hungarian Dance 6 D-flat Major 1869 8
Hungarian Dance 7 A Major 1869 7
Hungarian Dance 8 A Minor 1869 8
Hungarian Dance 9 E Minor 1869 7
Hungarian Dance 10 E Major 1869 8+
Hungarian Dance 11 D Minor 1880 8
Hungarian Dance 12 D Minor 1880 8+
Hungarian Dance 13 D Major 1880 8
Hungarian Dance 14 D Minor 1880 8+
Hungarian Dance 15 B-flat Major 1880 8+
Hungarian Dance 16 F Minor 1880 7
Hungarian Dance 17 F-sharp Minor 1880 8
Hungarian Dance 18 D Major 1880 8
Hungarian Dance 19 B Minor 1880 8+
Hungarian Dance 20 E Minor 1880 8
Hungarian Dance 21 E Minor 1880 8+

Hungarian Dances (solo piano)
Hungarian Dance 1 – solo piano version G Minor 1872 8+
Hungarian Dance 2 – solo piano version D Minor 1872 8+
Hungarian Dance 3 – solo piano version F Major 1872 8+
Hungarian Dance 4 – solo piano version F-sharp Minor 1872 8+
Hungarian Dance 5 – solo piano version F-sharp Minor 1872 8+
Hungarian Dance 6 – solo piano version D-flat Major 1872 8+
Hungarian Dance 7 – solo piano version F Major 1872 8+
Hungarian Dance 8 – solo piano version A Minor 1872 8+
Hungarian Dance 9 – solo piano version E Minor 1872 8+
Hungarian Dance 10 – solo piano version E Major 1872 8+

Four Ballades Op. 10
1. Ballade D Minor 1854 8
2. Ballade D Major 1854 8
3. Ballade B Minor 1854 8
4. Ballade B Major 1854 8

Waltzes (four hands) Op. 39
1. Waltz B Major 1867 5
2. Waltz E Major 1867 5
3. Waltz G-sharp Minor 1867 4
4. Waltz E Minor 1867 5
5. Waltz E Major 1867 5
6. Waltz C-sharp Major 1867 6
7. Waltz E Major 1867 5
8. Waltz B-flat Major 1867 5
9. Waltz D Minor 1867 3
10. Waltz G Major 1867 4
11. Waltz D Major 1867 5
12. Waltz E Major 1867 4
13. Waltz C Major 1867 6
14. Waltz C Major 1867 6
15. Waltz A Major 1867 5
16. Waltz D Minor 1867 4

Waltzes (solo piano) Op. 39
1. Waltz B Major 1865 7
2. Waltz E Major 1865 6
3. Waltz G-sharp Minor 1865 6
4. Waltz E Minor 1865 7
5. Waltz E Major 1865 6
6. Waltz C-sharp Major 1865 6
7. Waltz E Major 1865 6
8. Waltz B-flat Major 1865 6
9. Waltz D Minor 1865 5
10. Waltz G Major 1865 5
11. Waltz D Major 1865 6
12. Waltz E Major 1865 7
13. Waltz B Major 1865 7
14. Waltz G-sharp Minor 1865 7
15. Waltz A-flat Major 1865 6
16. Waltz C-sharp Minor 1865 6

Liebeslieder Waltzes Op. 52
1. Waltz – for four hands E Major 1869 4
2. Waltz – for four hands A Minor 1869 4
3. Waltz – for four hands A Major 1869 4
4. Waltz – for four hands F Major 1869 3
5. Waltz – for four hands A Minor 1869 3
6. Waltz – for four hands A Major 1869 5
7. Waltz – for four hands A-flat Major 1869 4
8. Waltz – for four hands A-flat Major 1869 5
9. Waltz – for four hands E Major 1869 5
10. Waltz – for four hands G Major 1869 4
11. Waltz – for four hands C Minor 1869 5
12. Waltz – for four hands E-flat Major 1869 4
13. Waltz – for four hands A-flat Major 1869 3
14. Waltz – for four hands E-flat Major 1869 3
15. Waltz – for four hands A-flat Major 1869 5
16. Waltz – for four hands F Minor 1869 4
17. Waltz – for four hands D-flat Major 1869 4
18. Waltz – for four hands D-flat Major 1869 5

New Liebeslieder Waltzes Op. 65
1. Waltz – for four hands A Minor 1877 3
2. Waltz – for four hands A Minor 1877 3
3. Waltz – for four hands A Major 1877 3
4. Waltz – for four hands D Minor 1877 2
5. Waltz – for four hands D Minor 1877 3
6. Waltz – for four hands F Major 1877 3
7. Waltz – for four hands C Major 1877 4
8. Waltz – for four hands E-flat Major 1877 4
9. Waltz – for four hands G Minor 1877 3
10. Waltz – for four hands G Major 1877 4
11. Waltz – for four hands G Major 1877 5
12. Waltz – for four hands G Minor 1877 5
13. Waltz – for four hands E Major 1877 5
14. Waltz – for four hands A Minor 1877 5
15. Ending – for four hands F Major 1877 5

Eight Pieces Op. 76
1. Capriccio F-sharp Minor 1878 8+
2. Capriccio B Minor 1878 8+
3. Intermezzo A-flat Major 1878 8+
4. Intermezzo B-flat Major 1878 8+
5. Capriccio C-sharp Minor 1878 8+
6. Intermezzo A Major 1878 8+
7. Intermezzo A Minor 1878 7
8. Capriccio C Major 1878 8+

Two Rhapsodies Op. 79
1. Rhapsody B Minor 1880 8+
2. Rhapsody G Minor 1880 8

Fantasies Op. 116
1. Capriccio D Minor 1892 8+
2. Intermezzo A Minor 1892 8+
3. Capriccio G Minor 1892 8+
4. Intermezzo E Major 1892 8
5. Intermezzo E Minor 1892 8
6. Intermezzo E Major 1892 8
7. Capriccio D Minor 1892 8

Three Intermezzi Op. 117
1. Intermezzo E-flat Major 1892 8
2. Intermezzo B-flat Minor 1892 8
3. Intermezzo C-sharp Minor 1892 8

Six Pieces Op. 118
1. Intermezzo A Minor 1893 8+
2. Intermezzo A Major 1893 8+
3. Ballade G Minor 1893 8+
4. Intermezzo F Minor 1893 8+
5. Romance F Major 1893 8+
6. Intermezzo E-flat Minor 1893 8+

Four Pieces Op. 119
1. Intermezzo B Minor 1893 8+
2. Intermezzo E Minor 1893 8+
3. Intermezzo C Major 1893 8+
4. Rhapsody E-flat Major 1893 8+

Piano Studies
Study – after Impromptu Op 90 No 2 by Schubert E-flat Major 1871 8+
51 Piano Exercises N/A 1893 8
Study 1 – after an Etude by Chopin F Minor 1869 8+
Study 2 – after a Rondo by Weber C Major 1869 8+
Study 3 – after a Presto by Bach (1st version) G Minor 1879 8+
Study 4 – after a Presto by Bach (2nd version) G Minor 1879 8+
Study 5 – after a Chaconne by Bach (for left hand only) D Minor 1879 8+

Miscellaneous pieces
Albumblatt A Minor 1853 6
Two Gigues N/A 1855 8
Two Sarabandes N/A 1855 7
Transcription – of a Gavotte by Gluck A Major 1871 8+
Scherzo Op. 4 E-flat Minor 1854 8+
Piano Quintet Op. 34 F Minor 1864 8+
Sonata – for two pianos Op. 34 b F Minor 1871 8+

Source by: pianosintheparks.com

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