Johannes Brahms

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Johannes Brahms

• 1833-1897

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youth

• Johannes was born in Hamburg, Germany
• His father was a musician and poor
• His mother was 41 when she married and she was 11
  years older than his father
• Brahms wrote the lullaby. Lullaby and good night

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Brahms parents
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Musical talent

• Brahms was encouraged in his music
• He began writing music at 13
• He helped out the family by earning money playing
  the piano at the local tavern
• He was handsome but shy
• His voice didnt change until he was in his 20s
  which caused him great embarrassment
• He was recognized as a great pianist but not a
  composer
• Robert Schumann wrote about Brahms in his
  publication and endorsed his music

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Remenyi, Hungarian violinist, was accompanied by
Brahms on tour. Remenyi introduced Brahms to
Liszt and Schumann.
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Brahms wrote in the style of the New German
School.
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Brahms was influenced in his writing by
Beethoven, he was not part of the school of
innovation like Wagner
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Brahms became friends with Robert and Clara
Schumann

• By the time he was 20 he had written many major
  piano works
• He moved to Vienna where he stayed and worked for
  the rest of his life

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Brahms also taught. In this piece of music, he
took students compositions and wove them into the
Academic Overture.
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Brahms never married.
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Requiem

• He worked on writing this concert style requiem
  for 11 years.
• This song that we are hearing says Blessed are
  they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
• How Lovely is thy Dwelling Place was written
  after the death of his mother.

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• The voices float as if soaring up to heaven
  itself.
• The soprano section introduces the melody
• As the other parts join in, the intensity and
  dynamics build
• Over and over the words reassure the grieving
  that God will give comfort

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Brahms was old fashioned

• He did not write tone poems
• He did not write new ideas or try to create new
  sounds
• He did create some beautiful music
• There are 3 great composers
• Bach
• Beethoven
• Brahms