Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was born in Hamburg, Germany, on May 7, 1833. His father was a musician so he was introduced to music at an early age. He began playing piano when he was seven, and, by the time he was a teenager, he was playing at local inns, taverns, and other local locations to earn money for his family. In 1850 Brahms met the Hungarian violinist Eduard Reményi with whom he would share a successful touring season in 1853 and would then introduce him to the German violinist Joseph Joachim. Joachim would introduce him, by letter, to Robert Schumann. Schumann, in turn, wrote very positive reviews of Brahms' playing and compositions, which helped him enormously to bring him out of obscurity.
The next year, he composed various works for piano, including his Piano Concerto in D Minor, and moved just above the Schumann's home to be close to them as Robert had serious health issues. He would remain close to his friend until he died in 1856 and would keep in contact with Clara until she died as well. In 1859, he became the director of a women's chorus in Hamburg. He took up residence in Vienna in 1863 and would make that home for the rest of his life - when he wasn't touring or vacationing elsewhere, that is. He became director of the Singakademie, a choral group, that same year.
After his mother died in 1868, he finished his highly successful choral work, A German Requiem. He had, of course, composed many other songs and choral pieces, but this was his best. He composed freely for orchestra, piano, and other small ensembles, such as string quintet and sextet or piano trio. His style was mostly influenced by classical ideals and forms, though he did experiment with other aspects of his compositions. He was a romantic in expression and harmony, though he didn't move as far away from the classical trends as his contemporaries Liszt and Wagner. Though there was something of a stylistic rivalry between them, he still respected them and their music.
From 1872 to 1875 he was the artistic director of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde (Friends of Music) in Vienna. He composed many of his greatest works in the latter part of his life, including his symphonies, the Academic Festival Overture, Double Concerto in A Minor, Piano Trio No. 3 in C Minor, Violin Sonata in D Minor, String Quintet in F Major and String Quintet in G Major.and Vier ernste Gesänge (Four Serious Songs). Brahms worked with clarinetist Richard Muhlfeld, composing a few works for him that included Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano and Quintet for Clarinet and Strings.
Brahms never married, though it is debated whether he had unrequited feelings for Clara Schumann and he did have a few unsuccessful relationships. He didn't, especially as he aged, enjoy the company of adults as much as that of children. It is said he often gave penny candy to the kids in his neighborhood. This love for children is sometimes reflected in his music. He died on April 3, 1897, of cancer.
The information for this biography was found on the following websites, which I accessed July 26, 2016: biography.com, noteablebiographies.com, britannica.com, and thefamouspeople.com.
The next year, he composed various works for piano, including his Piano Concerto in D Minor, and moved just above the Schumann's home to be close to them as Robert had serious health issues. He would remain close to his friend until he died in 1856 and would keep in contact with Clara until she died as well. In 1859, he became the director of a women's chorus in Hamburg. He took up residence in Vienna in 1863 and would make that home for the rest of his life - when he wasn't touring or vacationing elsewhere, that is. He became director of the Singakademie, a choral group, that same year.
After his mother died in 1868, he finished his highly successful choral work, A German Requiem. He had, of course, composed many other songs and choral pieces, but this was his best. He composed freely for orchestra, piano, and other small ensembles, such as string quintet and sextet or piano trio. His style was mostly influenced by classical ideals and forms, though he did experiment with other aspects of his compositions. He was a romantic in expression and harmony, though he didn't move as far away from the classical trends as his contemporaries Liszt and Wagner. Though there was something of a stylistic rivalry between them, he still respected them and their music.
From 1872 to 1875 he was the artistic director of the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde (Friends of Music) in Vienna. He composed many of his greatest works in the latter part of his life, including his symphonies, the Academic Festival Overture, Double Concerto in A Minor, Piano Trio No. 3 in C Minor, Violin Sonata in D Minor, String Quintet in F Major and String Quintet in G Major.and Vier ernste Gesänge (Four Serious Songs). Brahms worked with clarinetist Richard Muhlfeld, composing a few works for him that included Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano and Quintet for Clarinet and Strings.
Brahms never married, though it is debated whether he had unrequited feelings for Clara Schumann and he did have a few unsuccessful relationships. He didn't, especially as he aged, enjoy the company of adults as much as that of children. It is said he often gave penny candy to the kids in his neighborhood. This love for children is sometimes reflected in his music. He died on April 3, 1897, of cancer.
The information for this biography was found on the following websites, which I accessed July 26, 2016: biography.com, noteablebiographies.com, britannica.com, and thefamouspeople.com.
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Academic Festival Overture
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Pietari Inkinen, conductor |
Piano Quintet Op. 34 F minor
Maria Elisabeth Lott, violin Julian Fahrner, violin Hanna Schumacher, viola Guillaume Terrail, violoncello Frank Dupree, piano 00:42 Allegro non troppo 15:04 Andante, un poco adagio 24:19 Scherzo: Allegro 31:53 Finale: Poco sostenuto, Allegro non troppo, Presto, non troppo |
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German Requiem, mvt. 3: "Lord, Let Me Know Mine Errand"
The performers are not listed specifically, but the video was posted under the name "nfldsymphonyorch." |
Violin Concerto in d minor
I. Allegro non troppo II. Adagio 24:10 III. Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra Hilary Hahn, Violin Paavo Järvi, Conductor |
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"Hungarian Dance No.5"
HUNGARIAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - Budapest Conductor's name not listed Live at the MUSIKVEREIN WIEN |
Sonata in E flat major for Viola and Piano, Op 120 #2, Mvt 1
Keith Hamm, viola Peter Longworth, piano |