Great Composers Codexery

Johannes Brahms

German composer, pianist, and conductor of the mid-Romantic period.

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Johannes Brahms

via Wikipedia: Johannes Brahms · see source

His father Johann Jakob Brahms was a musician who played double bass, horn, and flute.[1][2] Beginning in autumn 1862, Brahms spent the winter in Vienna and gradually made that city his primary residence, becoming a prominent composer of his era.[3]

Last updated 2026-10-01 from the source article.

Life and work

Brahms made his debut as a performer at age 10 in a private concert.[4] From 1845 to 1848 he studied with Eduard Marxsen, a devotee of J. S. Bach.[3] In 1853 he met violinist Joseph Joachim, beginning a lifelong friendship.[5] Brahms's first publications under his own name were Opp. 1–4, issued by Breitkopf & Härtel.[6]

His mother died in 1865, prompting him to begin A German Requiem.[7] The complete Requiem premiered in Bremen in 1868 to great acclaim.[7] Brahms served as director of concerts for the Vienna Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde from 1872 through 1875.[8]

What the cited sources add

Jan Swafford argues that Brahms himself told stories of playing in waterfront bars as a teenager.[9] Swafford believes Brahms was sexually abused by prostitutes there, causing trauma.[9] Swafford also speculates Brahms may have been abused by sailors in those bars.[9]

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Johannes Brahms" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Geiringer and Geiringer 1982, p. 4; Geiringer and Geiringer 1982, p. 4; Geiringer and Geiringer 1982, p. 4; Hofmann 1999, p. 3–4; Geiringer and Geiringer 1982, p. 4; Geiringer and Geiringer 1982, p. 4 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Johannes Brahms" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Swafford 1999, p. 7; Geiringer and Geiringer 1982, p. 4; Geiringer and Geiringer 1982, p. 4; Geiringer and Geiringer 1982, p. 4; Geiringer and Geiringer 1982, p. 4; Hofmann 1999, p. 3–4 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Johannes Brahms" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Swafford 1999, p. 7 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Johannes Brahms" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Hofmann 1999, p. 3–4; Hofmann 1999, p. 3–4 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Johannes Brahms" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Swafford 1999, p. 7; Swafford 1999, p. 7; Swafford 1999, p. 7 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Johannes Brahms" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; Swafford 1999, p. 7 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Johannes Brahms" (CC BY-SA 4.0) en.wikipedia.org
  8. Wikipedia, "Johannes Brahms" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: ; ; Swafford 1999, p. 7 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  9. Including tales allegedly told by Brahms himself to Clara Schumann and others; see Jan Swafford, "'Aimez-Vous Brahms': An Exchange", The New York Review of Book. facts only, no text reused. nybooks.com

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Johannes Brahms (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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Test yourself

Three questions drawn from this entry’s sources. Pick an answer to check it.

1. In what year did Johannes Brahms die?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is 1897.

From the source: “Johannes Brahms (; ; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the mid-Romantic period. His music features expressive counterpoint, freer dissonance, rhythmic vitality, and traditional forms. His works incl”

2. In which place was Johannes Brahms born?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is Hamburg.

From the source: “Born in Hamburg to a musical family, Brahms composed and performed locally in his youth before touring Central Europe as a pianist, premiering his own works and meeting Franz Liszt in Weimar.”

3. In what year was Johannes Brahms born?

Correct.

Not quite. The answer is 1833.

From the source: “Johannes Brahms was born in 1833.”

Answers checked against the source article

Sources

Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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