Johannes Brahms

7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the Romantic period, based for most of his career in Vienna. His four symphonies, A German Requiem, concertos, and chamber music made him one of the leading composers of the 19th century, often grouped with Bach and Beethoven as one of the 'Three Bs'.

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Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Johannes Brahms.

Life events

Born in Hamburg
7 May 1833

Brahms was born in Hamburg to Johann Jakob Brahms, a town musician, and grew up in modest circumstances.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Studied piano and composition in Hamburg
c. 1840

Brahms studied piano from age seven with Otto Cossel and later piano and composition with Eduard Marxsen.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Concert tour with violinist Ede Reményi and meeting Joseph Joachim
April 1853

Brahms toured as accompanist to the Hungarian violinist Ede Reményi and formed a lifelong friendship with violinist Joseph Joachim.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Met Robert and Clara Schumann in Düsseldorf
30 September 1853

Brahms visited the Schumanns, who were deeply impressed; Robert Schumann hailed him publicly in the article 'Neue Bahnen' as music's coming genius.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Settled in Vienna
1862

Brahms moved to Vienna, which remained his home base for the rest of his life.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Premiere of A German Requiem in Bremen Cathedral
10 April 1868

Brahms conducted the premiere of the six-movement version of Ein deutsches Requiem, which established his European reputation.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Directed the concerts of the Vienna Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde
1872 – 1875

Brahms served as artistic director of the concerts of Vienna's Society of Friends of Music.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Premiere of the Symphony No. 1 in C minor
4 November 1876

After more than two decades of work, Brahms's First Symphony was premiered in Karlsruhe under Felix Otto Dessoff.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Premiere of the Symphony No. 4 in E minor
25 October 1885

Brahms conducted the premiere of his final symphony in Meiningen, one of the crowning achievements of his orchestral output.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Vienna
3 April 1897

Brahms died of cancer in Vienna at age 63, less than a year after the death of Clara Schumann, and was buried in the Zentralfriedhof.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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