Maggie Preller

Orchestra Research Assignment

February 8, 2014
Orchestra
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms is a erman com!oser an" !ianist born on May #, 18$$ in
%amburg& Johannes 'ather Johan Ja(ob Brahms taught him !iano lessons until he
)as se*en years ol", then Brahms traine" )ith Frie"rich +illibal" ,ossel& -ue to the
!o*erty in the Brahms 'amily, Johannes Brahms ha" to contribute to the 'amily. s
income by !laying the !iano in "ance halls& Brahms also stu"ie" cello 'or a short
time in his li'e an" )as later gi*en !iano lessons 'rom a stu"ent o' Mo/art& Johannes
Brahms )asn.t *ery )ell (no)n as a !ianist until he ma"e at concert tour )hen he
)as 10 years ol"& %e con"ucte" choirs 'rom a young age, an" *ery much en1oye"
being a chorus an" orchestra con"uctor&
Brahms )rote a number o' ma1or )or(s 'or orchestra, inclu"ing t)o serena"es, 'our
sym!honies,t)o !iano concertos, a *iolin concerto, a "ouble concerto 'or *iolin an"
cello, an" t)o com!anion orchestral o*ertures, the Aca"emic Festival Overture
the Tragic Overture. Johannes Brahms )as an e2treme !er'ectionist& %e com!letely
"estroye" many o' his )or(s i' they )eren.t u! to his stan"ar"s& Brahms. music )as
mostly (no)n to be large, com!le2 musical structures )ith some small3scale )or(s&
Many com!osers in4uences Brahms inclu"ing Mo/art an" %a"yn an" the early
romantic com!osers ha" a ma1or in4uence on him, !articularly 5chumann, )ho
encourage" Brahms as a young com!oser&
6n 1800, the 7#3year3ol" Brahms "eci"e" to sto! com!osing music, ho)e*er, he )as
unable to "o that an" in his later years !ro"uce" many master!ieces& +hile
com!leting the O!& 121 songs in 1808, Brahms "e*elo!e" cancer 9li*er or
!ancreas:& %is illness gra"ually )orsene" an" he "ie" on A!ril $, 180# in ;ienna at
the age o' 8$& Johannes Brahms )as a great com!oser an" in4uence to 'ollo)ing
com!osers&