Transcript Johannes Brahms

JOHANNES BRAHMS
~A Composer~
Early Life
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Born: May 7th 1833
Grew up in Hamburg, Germany
Started playing the piano at very young age
First teacher of music was his father
First Performances
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Johannes Brahms Had to play the piano at brothels
and other very slimy places in Hamburg in order to
make some money because his family was so poor.
He would often play the piano in bars were he was
touched inappropriately by prostitutes.
A Real Performance
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At age 19, went on more reputable tour playing
piano.
People began to accept him as an accomplished
musician. His talent really came out when he was
able to freely express himself.
The Schumann’s
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Robert and Clara
 Brahms
performed for the Schumann’s at their home.
 Robert wrote in personal journal, “visit from Brahms, a
genious.”
 Robert wrote about Brahms in a reputable music journal
 Robert and Clara helped mold Brahms into the
composer he became.
Role Models
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Brahms had many different role models that
influenced his work. Perhaps the most important was
that of his parents.
 His
father was a musician that played many different
instruments and was instrumental in teaching his son the
art of music at a young age.
 Brahms mother was also a huge influence in his life. His
first major composition, A German Requiem, was
influenced by the death of his mother.
Ludwig Van Beethoven
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Ludwig Van Beethoven was perhaps the most
influential person to Brahms besides his parents.
Many of Brahms compositions were very similar to
that of Beethoven’s.
Brahms had a statue of Beethoven that looked down
upon him as he was composing new music.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
and Joseph Haydn
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Mozart was another one of Brahms role models with
his composition of over 600 works.
Brahms collected autographed first editions of both
Mozart and Haydn’s work.
Brahms First Symphony
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Brahms first symphony premiered in 1876 which
made him incredibly well known.
With the success of his first symphony, Brahms
gained to courage and conviction to complete other
projects that he had started.
He went on to compose three other symphonies.
Opus 32
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Johannes Brahms Opus 32 is what I chose to do my
listening guide on.
Nine short songs all written in Brahms native
language of German.
Songs talk about love, life, time and commitment.
Opus 32: song 1
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Song 1: ‘How I roused myself in the night.’
A
song that asks the question where has all of my time
gone. (F minor)
Slow buildup in song
 Vocal Repetition
 Piano Repetition
 Piano takes song out
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Opus 32: Song 2
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Song 2: ‘To Visit You no Longer.’
A
song that talks about the true feelings and meaning
of love. (D Minor)
 Piano
solo at beginning
 Very low notes for piano
 Vocals are repetitive
 Volume rises and drops like a roller coaster
Opus 32: Song 3
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Song 3: I Creep About Sad and Mute.’
 Talks
about the gloomy feeling that everyone gets
sometimes. (D Minor)
 Melody
begins upbeat and bright
 Volume continues to rise throughout song
 Repetition throughout
Opus 32: Song 4
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Song 4: ‘The Stream that Rushed Past Me.’
 Similar
to first song because it talks about a stream
rushing by like the passing of time. (C Sharp Minor)
 Bass
notes begin the song
 Vocals and piano seem out of sync at first
 Vocals build throughout song
 Vocals and piano descend together to bring song to close
Opus 32: Song 5
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Song 5: ‘Alas, Again so you would imprison me.’
 Overcoming
 Repetion
physical desire and want. (B Minor)
on piano begins song
 Cycle between left and right hand on piano
 Twirling melody on piano
 Repetition of both vocals and piano
Opus 32: Song 6
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Song 6: ‘You Say That I Deluded Myself.’
 Love
that has passed. (C Minor)
 Left
and right hand in perfect harmony to begin
 Right hand harmony with vocals
 Introduction repeated several times
Opus 32: Songs 7-9
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Song 7: ‘You Are Thinking of Something Bitter to
Say.’
 The
singer can’t be offended by the words of his former
love.
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Song 8: ‘So We Stand, I and My Mistress.’
 The
singer is still at peace with whatever his former love
might say about or to him.
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Song 9: How Blissful You Are, My Queen.’
 The
blissful union of a man and woman deeply in love
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Brahms decided to take a break from composing
and travel the world to see other cultures.
He enjoyed being outside and one with nature,
which is another characteristic that he shared with
his role model, Ludwig Van Beethoven.
Brahms was named an honorary citizen of Hamburg
in 1889.
Life After Composing
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In 1890, at the age of 57, Brahms decided that he
was going to give up composing.
He wanted to spend more time outside enjoying
what our earth had to offer.
This decision did not last long though, Brahms
continued composing.
He loved music and he could not live a life without
it.
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On April 3rd 1897, Brahms died of either liver or
pancreas cancer. Although he is gone, his music
continues to live on and we can learn and be
inspired by it still today.
Resources
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"Johannes Brahms." Johannes Brahms (2008): n. pag. Web. 5
Feb 2011.
<http://www.classicalarchives.com/work/5876.html#tvf=tr
acks&tv=about>
"Johannes Brahms." Johannes Brahms (2007): n. pag. Web. 7
Feb 2011.
<http://www.recmusic.org/lieder/get_text.html?TextId=186
16>.
"9 Lieder." (2009): n. pag. Web. 7 Feb 2011.
<http://imslp.org/wiki/9_Lieder_and_Songs,_Op.32_(Brah
ms,_Johannes)>.