Brahms Books

Brahms (Life & Times S.) This title is about the life and work of German composer Johannes Brahms (1833-97) who was one of the seminal musical figures of the 19th century. He shot to fame as a dashing young composer "the one who had to come" according to Robert Schumann. He consciously "switched" this image, refashioning himself as the elder statesman of German music, the heir to Bach and Beethoven. The internal conflict between romantic lion and "eminence grise" enlivened his music, which influenced nearly every composer who followed him.

Brahms: Clarinet Quintet (Cambridge Music Handbooks) On its first appearance in 1891, Brahms' Clarinet Quintet was immediately recognised as a remarkable achievement, and a century later it still has the power to claim the hearts and minds of players and audiences alike. Widely regarded as Brahms' supreme achievement in the field of chamber music, the Clarinet Quintet is here placed in the context of the history of the clarinet and its repertory, and of Brahms' own compositions before 1891. The influence of the Meiningen clarinet virtuoso Richard Muhlfeld unleashed a new vein of creativity in Brahms, and this forms a basis for discussion, together with questions of performance practice (in relation to both clarinet and string quartet) and the legacy of Brahms' clarinet music. These chapters are complemented by a comprehensive analysis of the music. Brahms Books.

Performing Brahms: Early Evidence of Performance Style (Musical Performance & Reception S.) A great deal of evidence survives about how Brahms and his contemporaries performed his music. But much of this evidence, found in letters, autograph scores, treatises, publications, recordings, and more, has been hard to access, both for musicians and for scholars. This book brings the most important evidence together into one volume. It also includes discussions by leading Brahms scholars of the many issues raised by the evidence. The period spanned by the life of Brahms and the following generation saw a crucial transition in performance style. As a result, modern performance practices differ significantly from those of Brahms's time. By exploring the musical styles and habits of Brahms's era, this book will help musicians and scholars understand Brahms's music better and bring fresh ideas to present-day performance. The value of the book is greatly enhanced by the accompanying CD of historic recordings, including a performance by Brahms himself.

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