Johannes Brahms

Johannes Brahms (May 7, 1833 – April 3, 1897)

Influences on Brahms

Brahms venerated Beethoven, perhaps even more than the other Romantic composers did. In the composer's home, a marble bust of Beethoven looked down on the spot where he composed. His works contain a number of apparent imitations of Beethoven. Thus, the beginning of Brahms's First Piano Sonata is very close to the opening of Beethoven's Hammerklavier sonata; and the main theme of the finale of Brahms's First Symphony is reminiscent of the main theme of the finale of Beethoven's Ninth. (When the latter resemblance was pointed out to Brahms, he replied, "Any ass can see that.")

Related Topics:
Beethoven - First Piano Sonata - Hammerklavier sonata - First Symphony - Ninth

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Brahms also loved the earlier Classical composers Mozart and Haydn. He collected first editions and autographs of their works, and also edited performing editions.

Related Topics:
Mozart - Haydn

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Brahms's affection for the Classical period may also be reflected in his choice of genres: he favored the Classical forms of the sonata, symphony, and concerto, and frequently composed movements in sonata form. In general, Brahms can be regarded as the most Classical of all the Romantic composers. This set him in contrast to the acolytes of the more progressive Richard Wagner, and the divide between the two schools was one of the most notable features of German musical life in the late 19th century. Nontheless, Brahms himself claimed to be one of the very few who fully could understand Wagner's genius, and had a lot of respect for the older composer.

Related Topics:
Sonata - Symphony - Concerto - Sonata form - Richard Wagner

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A quite different influence on Brahms was folk music. Brahms wrote settings for piano and voice of 144 German folk songs, and many of his lieder reflect folk themes or depict scenes of rural life. His Hungarian dances were among his most profitable compositions, and in orchestrated versions remain well known today.

Related Topics:
Folk music - Hungarian dances

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Brahms was almost certainly influenced by the technological development of the piano, which reached essentially its modern form during his lifetime. Much of Brahms's piano music and many of his lieder make use of the deep bass notes and the pedal to obtain a rich and powerful sound.

Related Topics:
Piano - Lied

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~