Who is Johannes Brahms? All you need to know about the famous German composer

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) was a German composer and pianist who is considered one of the greatest composers of the Romantic period. He wrote many genres of music, including symphonies, concertos, chamber music, choral works, and piano recitals. Some of his most famous works include four symphonies, the Violin Concerto, the German Requiem, and Hungarian Dances. Brahms was known for his meticulous workmanship, emotional depth, and ability to combine classical forms and structures with romantic melodies and harmonies.

Famous German composer Johannes Brahms played musical chairs throughout his career.

Learn more about the man behind the choral, piano and orchestral works that continue to inspire musicians today. #GoogleDoodle -> https://t.co/ytPzuthtId pic.twitter.com/MZy6pvDyIf

— Google Doodles (@GoogleDoodles)
May 7, 2023

🎉 Happy birthday, Johannes Brahms! What is your favorite work by him? Let us know in the comments!🎧 Here are our picks: https://t.co/kyY7DnTCen pic.twitter.com/m0j7syF29R

— Deutsche Grammophon (DG) (@DGclassics)
May 7, 2023

The early life of Johannes Brahms

Johannes Brahms was born on May 7, 1833 in Hamburg, Germany. His father, Johann Jakob Brahms, was a double bass player in the Hamburg Philharmonic Society, and his mother, Johanna Henrika Christiane Nissen, was a seamstress and a talented musician.

Brahms showed early musical talent and began playing the piano and composing at a young age. He was initially tutored by his father and later by various local musicians. When he was 10 years old, he gave his first public performance in Hamburg.

In 1853, Brahms met the Hungarian violinist Joseph Joachim, who introduced him to composer and pianist Robert Schumann, who recognized his talent and wrote an influential article about him in the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik. Schumann’s support helped Brahms gain recognition as a composer and secure commissions and performances.

Johannes Brahms Education and Careers

Johannes Brahms’s education was informal as he did not attend a formal conservatory. He learned the basics of music from his father and local teachers, but was largely self-taught. In 1853, Brahms undertook a concert tour with Hungarian violinist Ede Reményi, taking him to various cities in Germany, Austria and Hungary. This tour gave him valuable exposure and helped him establish himself as a professional musician.

Brahms’s first big break came when he was commissioned by publisher Julius Schuberth to write a piano sonata. This work, along with Robert Schumann’s Variations on a Theme, helped establish him as a rising star in the world of classical music.

Brahms became director of a women’s choir in Hamburg, which gave him valuable experience in choral music. He also began working as a pianist and conductor, and he toured extensively throughout Germany and Austria.

In 1882 he was appointed conductor of the Singakademie in Vienna, where he worked with a chorus of more than 200 singers. He continued to compose during this time and produced some of his most famous works, including the German Requiem and his First Symphony.

Brahms’s career was marked by many awards and honors, including honorary doctorates from the University of Cambridge and the University of Breslau. He was also a member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences and Arts. Despite his success, Brahms was known for being modest and not seeking attention. He continued to compose and perform until his death in 1897.

Great works of Johannes Brahms

He composed many works in many different genres, including symphonies, orchestral music, chamber music, piano music and choral music. Here are some of his most famous and widely performed works:

  • Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68
  • Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. seventy three
  • Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90
  • Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
  • Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
  • Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 83
  • Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77
  • Double Concerto for violin and cello in A minor, Op. 102histfamou
  • Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80
  • The tragic opening act, Op. 81

Heritage

Johannes Brahms’s legacy is that of a towering figure in the world of classical music. He is widely considered one of the greatest composers of the Romantic period, and his works continue to be celebrated and performed around the world.

Brahms was known for his meticulous workmanship, emotional depth, and ability to combine classical forms and structures with romantic melodies and harmonies. He was a master of counterpoint and harmony, and his works were admired for their complexity and rich texture.

His compositions had a profound influence on composers who came after him, including Gustav Mahler, Arnold Schoenberg and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Today, Brahms’s works continue to be performed by orchestras, chamber groups, and soloists around the world. His symphonies, concertos and choral works are among the most beloved and most frequently performed works in the classical repertoire. His legacy as composer, pianist and conductor continues to inspire musicians and music lovers alike.

Also read | Who is Corky Lee? Get to know the legendary American photographer

Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: pagasa.edu.vn

Leave a Comment