Johannes Brahms, composer

Born: May 7, 1833 in Hamburg, Germany

Died: April 3, 1897 in Vienna

Education: began taking lessons in piano, cello and horn as a child; within a few years he was accepted to study piano and music theory for free by Eduard Marxsen, one of Hamburg’s leading teachers

The Schumanns: with an introductory letter from his friend Joseph Joachim, Brahms arrived on the doorstep of Robert and Clara Schumann; they immediately recognized his talent, championing him in the press writing letters of recommendation to present to publishers; after Robert’s death, Brahms remained lifelong friends with Clara

Important Works: Four symphonies, two piano concertos, Handel Variations, G minor Piano Quartet, Ein Deutsches Requiem, Rinaldo, Alto Rhapsody, Liebeslieder Walzer, Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Clarinet Trio, Four Serious Songs

Performer: an accomplished pianist who often performed the premieres of his own compositions; occasionally went on long concert tours to supplement his income

Known as: both a traditionalist and an innovator; believed in absolute music as opposed to the programmatic music of contemporaries Liszt, Berlioz and Wagner