Born: May 7, 1833, his parents were Johann Jakob Brahms, a musician, and Johanna Henrika Christiane Nissen, a seamstress. They had three children, Johannes was the middle child.
Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany
Died: April 3, 1897 in Vienna, Austria due to liver cancer
Also Known As: He was a pianist, composer, conductor and teacher. Brahms became director of the Vienna Singakademie in 1863 to 1864.
Type of Compositions: He wrote piano sonatas, songs, serenades, motets, vocal works, concertos and symphonies, among others.
Influence: When Brahms was 7 years old he began taking piano lessons under Otto Friedrich Willibald Cossel. He would continue his studies under Eduard Marxen, from whom he received instruction on theory and composition. His other influences came from reading materials, works of other composers and from his travels. Brahms admired the works of Schubert and Beethoven.
Musical Friends: He went on tour with the violinist Reményi in 1853, it was then when he met and became good friends with Joseph Joachim. Brahms also met and made friends with other notable composers such as Lisztand Robert and Clara Schumann. It has been stated that Brahms was in love with Clara and he died barely a year after Clara's death.
Notable Works: His compositions include: Symphony No. 1 Op. 68 (c Minor), Symphony No. 2 Op. 73 (D Major), German Requiem, Variations on the St. Antony Chorale, Handel Variations, Piano Concerto No. 1 (d Minor), Violin Concerto Op. 77 (D Major), Violin Sonata No. 1 Op. 78 (G Major), Piano Concerto No. 2 Op. 83 (B-Flat Major), Symphony No. 3 Op. 90 (F Major), Symphony No. 4 Op. 98 (e Minor) and Violin Sonata No. 2 Op. 100 (A Major).
Interesting Fact:: Brahms was a voracious reader; his collection of books are now stored at the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Vienna. Brahms never married. He was buried at the Central Cemetery in Vienna, where he was laid to rest next to Beethoven and Schubert.
Music Sample: Listen to Symphony No.1 in C minor from Essentials of Music
