Johannes Brahms

Johannes Brahms was a pianist, composer, conductor and teacher. Brahms became director of the Vienna Singakademie from 1863 to 1864. His works include piano sonatas, songs, serenades, motets, vocal works, concertos and symphonies.



When Brahms was 7 years old he began taking piano lessons under Otto Friedrich Willibald Cossel. He would continue his studies under Eduard Marxen, from whom he received instruction on theory and composition. His other influences came from reading materials, works of other composers and from his travels. Brahms admired the works of Schubert and Beethoven.

He went on tour with the violinist Reményi in 1853; it was then when he met and became good friends with Joseph Joachim. Brahms also met and became friends with other notable composers such as Liszt and Robert and Clara Schumann. It has been stated that Brahms was in love with Clara and he died barely a year after Clara's death.

His compositions include: "Symphony No. 1 Op. 68 (c Minor)," "Symphony No. 2 Op. 73 (D Major)," "German Requiem," "Variations on the St. Antony Chorale," "Handel Variations," "Piano Concerto No. 1 (d Minor)," "Violin Concerto Op. 77 (D Major)," "Violin Sonata No. 1 Op. 78 (G Major)," "Piano Concerto No. 2 Op. 83 (B-Flat Major)," "Symphony No. 3 Op. 90 (F Major)," "Symphony No. 4 Op. 98 (e Minor)" and "Violin Sonata No. 2 Op. 100 (A Major)."

Brahms was a voracious reader; his collection of books are now stored at the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna. Brahms never married. He was buried at the Central Cemetery in Vienna, where he was laid to rest next to Beethoven and Schubert.

Listen to one of his compositions: Symphony No.1 in C minor from Essentials of Music.

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