Download Music Department Independent Study Course Johannes Brahms Chapter 2: The Brothels of Hamburg

Music Department
Independent Study Course
Johannes Brahms
Chapter 2: The Brothels of Hamburg
1) Dr. Greeburg comments on the health of Johannes Brahms due to his work in
the brothels of Hamburg. What four conditions does he state that Brahms
was suffering from:
2) When the parents of Johannes Brahms stopped Johannes from working in the
brothels of Hamburg, what source of income (work) did Brahms turn to?
3) Dr. Greenburg states that Johannes Brahms in his late teens was interested in
three things. What were his three interests during his late teens.
4) During what years did Brahms give his first piano recitals (Hamburg)?
5) When Brahms gave his first two piano recitals, how old was he?
6) Dr. Greenburg states that Brahms considered two earlier German composers
as icons. Who were these composers?
7) What was the name of the first composition written by Brahms and
performed at his recital?
8) Concerning the composition: Fantasia for Piano on a Favorite Waltz, what
does Dr. Greenburg state that Brahms did with the music?
9) Dr. Greenburg states that Brahms at an early age decided that he wanted to
be a creator not a re-creator. What is Dr. Greenburg referring to?
10) How does Dr. Greeburg describe Brahm’s relationship with his mother.
11) After Brahms stopped performing in the brothels of Hamburg, he began
giving piano lessons, performing in respectable restaurants, accompanying
respectable singers in theaters and arranging drawing room music
(orchestrating music) for a respectable publisher. What was the pseudonym
name that Brahms used?
12) At what age did Johannes Brahms complete his formal schooling?
13) Brahms continued to study piano and composition. Who was his teacher?
14) Eduard Marxsen imbued Brahms with a deep respect for traditional German
Music and sound compositional technique based on which three German
composers?
15) At this time Brahms inherited a dislike for the compositional style of which
composer?
Special Note – Johannes Brahms is a composer of the Romantic period. He is
often thought of as the “Classicist of the Romantic period”. Brahms had an
inclination toward the musical structures (forms) of the earlier classical
composers . This inclination was strengthened by the lessons taught by Eduard
Marxsen.
16) Eduard Marxsen recognized the genius of his student Johannes Brahms very
early in their relationship. Based upon this knowledge, what did Marxen
charge Brahms for his lessons and how many lessons on a weekly basis did
Brahms receive from Marxsen?
17)In March of 1850 the composers Robert and Clara Schuman came to
Hamburg to perform. Johannes Brahms (then seventeen years of age) sent a
number of his compositions to Robert Schuman at their hotel. What did
Schuman do with these compositions?
18)Dr. Greenburg states that in the year 1848 revolution breaks out in Paris. In
1848 and 1849 numerous revolutions spread across Europe. Greenburg goes
on to state that Hamburg was essentially free of these revolutionary
movements. What happens in Hamburg as a result of the revolutions in
other European locations?
19) How does the influx of refugees into Hamburg effect Jojannes Brahms?
20) To exemplify the influence of Hungarian music on the compositional style of
Johannes Brahms, Dr. Greenburg plays three excerts from compositions by
Johannes Brahms. Please list these excerpts:
21) The Hungarian Dance No. 5, by Johannes Brahms is one of how many
Hungarian dances ?
22) Johannes Brahms meets one Jewish refugee named Eduard Hoffman a
violinist. Eduard Hoffman changes his name to Eduard?
23) When Brahms was nineteen years of age, he and Eduard Reminyi decide to
leave Hamburg and go on tour. Brahms leaves Hamburg as an unknown
entity and in how many months does he become famous and is hailed as the
heir to Beethoven and the future of German Music.
24) During the sixth week of the tour with the violinist Eduard Rimenyi, Rimenyi
suggests that they should visit his old friend from the Vienna Conservatory
(another violinist). This person becomes one of the major friendships that
Johannes Brahms develops during his life time. Who is this person?
Where did they travel to meet him?
25) Concerning Joseph Joachim, Dr. Greenburg states that he was a protégé of
which famous composer? Also in which violin concerto did be perform the
solo part (a concerto that had not been performed in thirty five years)
26) Dr. Greenburg, speaking about Joseph Joachim makes three important points
about his career. What are these milestones concerning the violinist Joseph
Joachim?
Special Note – Joseph Joachim was a close friend of Robert and Clara Schuman.
Joachim was pleasantly surprised in1853 when he was paid a visit by his old
school chum Eduard Hoffman (now known as Eduard Reminyi). Johannes
Brahms remember was on tour with Reminyi as his accompanist.
27) During the visit to Joseph Joachim by Reminyi and Brahms, Brahms had the
opportunity to play a number of his compositions for Joachim. Within two
days, Brahms and Joachim forged a friendship that would last the rest of their
lives. Joseph Joachim was stunned by these compositions and made the
following three comments with regards to the music of Brahms:
A)
B)
C)
28) Joseph Joachim was so impressed with Brahms that he arranged a
performance by Eduard Rimenyi and Johannes Brahms for George V King of
Hanover. George V was so impressed with Brahms that he called him the
“little Beethoven” . Unfortunately, it was discovered that Rimenyi had ties
the in revolution Hungary and had dared to perform before the king. As a
result Rimenyi and Brahms were escorted to the border. Joachim gave them a
gift that would further the career of Johannes Brahms. What was this gift?
29) Did Liszt ask Brahms to perform his composition for him? How did Brahms
reply? Who ended up performing the Brahms composition for Franz Liszt?
30) Did Franz Liszt like the composition he played by Johannes Brahms?
Comment on the brief relationship (at this encounter) between Franz Liszt
and Johannes Brahms.
31) Eduard Rimenyi afraid of insulting Franz Liszt and of seeing his career come
to an end, terminates his tour with Johannes Brahms. The ultimate insult
was when Brahms dozed off while Liszt was performing one of his own
compositions. Brahms who has very little money take what action?
32) Finally Brahms, after playing through a number of Schumann compositions
decides to pay a visit to the Schumann household. This is perhaps the most
important decision that Johannes Brahms has ever made. In what year does
his visit the Schumann house for the first time?.