"Study Bach. There you will find everything."
— Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms (May 1833 - April 1897) was a German composer and pianist of the Romantic period. He was a great master of symphonic and sonata style in the second half of the 19th century.
Brahms showed early promise as a pianist, studying first with his father (who was a horn and double bass player) and then beginning formal lessons at the age of 7. Brahms began earning money for his family by playing in rough inns in the dock area of Hamburg. In the meantime, he composed music and gave recitals.
In 1853, a renowned violinist recognized Brahms’ talent and recommended him to the famous composer Robert Schumann, the result of which was an immediate friendship. Schumann wrote enthusiastically about Brahms and praised his compositions which catapulted Brahms as a force into the world of music.
Between 1857 and 1860, Brahms taught piano and conducted a choral society and was also conductor of a women’s choir in Hamburg. These positions gave him valuable experience and also allowed him time for composing. By the 1870s, Brahms was writing significant chamber music. He composed his four symphonies between the years 1876 to 1885.
Brahms’ renown spread beyond Germany and Austria. Switzerland and the Netherlands greatly appreciated his works, as did Poland and Hungary. The University of Breslau in Poland even conferred upon him an honorary degree in 1879.
Brahms has been ranked as one of the “three great Bs” (Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms). His prolific career saw the composition of symphonies, concerti, chamber music, piano works, choral compositions, and more than 200 songs. Brahms died in 1897 at the age of 63.
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