Brahms free essay sample

Is considered by many as one of the greatest musicians to ever live. He was born In Hamburg, and was a son of a double-bass player (Mescals 305). Johannes developed his music at a very early age. At the age of ten, Brahms helped increase his family income by playing the piano in the dance halls of the slum district where he grew up. Many believed he was the next great Beethoven, and he certainly lived up to those expectations. When Johannes was a teenager, he started to get noticed. He then visited the famous musicals Robert Schumann, and they began to bond.Roberts wife, Clara was also a famous musicals, and the two took Johannes Into their home. Now Johannes had all the making of a great musician with the help of Clara and Robert Schumann. Johannes began to fall in love with Clara, and things started to startle in the home. We will write a custom essay sample on Brahms or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Later on Robert passed away, and Johannes had to choose between his love or moving away on his own. He chose to take his own path, and left Clara. Soon after that Clara had passed away, and Johannes was heartbroken. Brahms began to perform his music more than ever. Brahms was a traditionalist, and played his classical music to millions.He performed an unsurpassed four symphonies in the romantic period (Masochism 306). He was one of the most famous human beings alive in the romantic period. He has about two hundred solo songs. His most famous piece is the Symphony No. 3 In F Major. It was a soft but haunting symphony that took the breath away from his audience. Johannes did not Like to perform symphonies though. He said, It Is no laughing matter to compose a symphony after the Likes of us to feel when we hear the tramp of a giant like him behind us. He had great respect for Beethoven and played his music in inspiration for him.Brahms greatest vocal work is the German Requiem. It was actually considered his greatest work of his career. Brahms is notable for his combination of classical and romantic styles. His work was viewed throughout the world. HIS music Is compared to such names as Beethoven, Mozart, Handel, and Bach. Brahms never married any women, but loved many women. In fact, at one point In his time, he had to deny taking Plano lesson from a woman because his attraction to her was so strong. A famous quote by Brahms is when he said, It is not hard to compose, but it is wonderfully hard to let the prosperous notes fall under the table (Masochism 305).Brahms took his work more serious than anyone of his time. Music was his life, and he wanted to share his passion with others. Brahms, more than any other composer was responsible for reviving what Is termed absolute music (Groggier Multimedia Once). Brahms was a master of the compositional craft. Most of his music was serious music, and thats what grabbed the audiences attention. In his early manhood, his mothers death had led him to write songs. Brahms is known for his music and plays, but his songs and vocal writings are far overlooked.His greatest vocal work, and the work central to his career, Is the German Requiem combining mixed chorus, solo voices and full Although Brahms was a very successful man he was not always the happiest man on the planet. In fact like many of us in todays world he became depressed. After relationship and relationship, and being heartbroken after heartbroken he reached a low point in his life (Brahms 1). He struggled trying to find the right one. Many believe the two clarinet sonatas he wrote were inspired by this. The music he wrote for the clarinet brought out the passion, frustration, and dignity of love.Note after beautiful note flowing so nicely into smooth diminuendos and crescendos. Brahms choose a man by the name of Richard Muffed to play his sonata for the first time. Muffed who Nas a self taught clarinetist had never played anything like it and was so impressed he performed it many times in concert during the mid sasss. Brahms once again had produced a masterpiece. The sonatas since have now become standard clarinet repertoire for clarinetists throughout the world. After composing the two sonatas arms still seemed unsatisfied with himself (Richard).He took a bit of a break from USIA which in the end was probably the best decision he could make at that point. He now spent his days listening to some of the other great composers of his time. He Nas more off relaxed more easy going kind of Brahms. He put the lover and aggressive side of him away and started to bring out some of his deeper emotions than Just the lust for women he had. Many consider this to be when Brahms hit a changing point in his life. From this point on you can even tell in his music he sort of rote with a different meaning behind the notes.Its almost an odd sounding but hysterics and intriguing sound. Its not the easiest to explain unless of course youve heard it. Brahms finally was able to overcome the adversity in depression and start composing again. Brahms was a master in every form of music except operas. Brahms preferred not to do operas because he did not find a passion for them, and he thought that it would interfere with his other forms of music (Masochism 307). Brahms had much respect for his idols, as they were Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, and Bach. He once quoted, If we can not compose as beautifully as Mozart andHaydn, let us at least try to compose as purely (Grants). The only reason Brahms is not as famous and well known as Beethoven and Mozart is because he came in a later era. If he were to be in the same era as those giants, his name would be known to everyone, even today. Brahms was one of the few composers in his era that did not concentrate on the future of music, but the past (Grants). Brahms was intensely aware of the weight of the tradition he was trying to uphold. Brahms worked very hard though, throwing away any piece of music that he thought was unworthy.