Johannes Brahms

Born May 7, 1833 in Hamburg,Germany

Died April 3, 1897 in Vienna, Austria

Nationality: German

Period/Style: Romantic

About the composer:

Johannes Brahms, like another famous composer, Ludwig Van Beethoven, lived in a very poor family.  As a young boy, this composer hated school, especially French.  He started to write music at an early age, and even sold his compositions so he could buy something to eat.  Sometimes people paid only a few pennies for his music.  Brahms was very good friends for many years with another composer and his wife, Robert and Clara Schumann. 

About the music:

A German Requiem (excerpts)

Requiem is another name for "Mass for the Dead".  It has several sections or movements which show different expressions like sad or hopeful.   It is written for Chorus, Orchestra and solo soprano and baritone singers.  Probably the best-known section of this big piece is called, "How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place".

Symphony #3: excerpts

This piece was written around 1893 and has four movements, or sections, which alternate in fast, slow, a third movement which is in a slow waltz, and a fast, stormy-like fourth movement.  Listen for the opening three chords of the first movement.

Intermezzi

The name intermezzo, or plural intermezzi, means "in the middle of something" or as an "interlude".  These pieces by Brahms are written for a piano solo and are often somber in one part, and happy sounding in another.

Suggested Activities:

Read a description of what Johannes Brahms looked like and draw a picture of him. 

There is a very famous piece written by Brahms which almost everyone hears as a tiny baby.  Do you have any idea what that piece is?