Johannes Brahms
Brahms was born at Hamburg, May 7, 1833, and
died in Vienna, April 3, 1897.
His early musical education was cared for by
Cossel, and later by Marxsen, Cossel's own teacher.
Brahms went on tour with Remenyi, the
violinist, in 1853 and became acquainted with Joachim. This meeting had a great
influence on Brahm's career. For a time Brahms lived with Joachim, who was much
impressed with his ability. Through Joachim he became acquainted with Liszt and
Schumann, both of whom regarded him, strangely enough, as a follower of the most
advanced Romantic school of modern music.
For four years Brahms was concertmeister to
the Prince of Lippe-Detmold (1854-1858). Apart from this he held very few
official appointments, and appeared very little in public. His compositions,
however, brought him into great prominence, and he found a staunch supporter in
Mm. Clara Schumann, who did much to familiarize the public with his pianoforte
music.
His compositions are very numerous though not
very familiar to the average musician on account of their serious nature. Brahms
like Bach, is a musician's musician; the beauty of his music does not lie on the
surface, but it exists, and when found is abiding. The general public is more
familiar with Brahms' Hungarian Dances than with his four symphonies or even his
Requiem, and yet Brahms can only be classed with the very highest musical
composers, and none who study his works can fail to appreciate his serious
purpose, and loftiness of conception.
