Brahms's masterpieces. Popular classical music.
Here are some recommended works from the many masterpieces left by the German composer Johannes Brahms.
If you get to know Brahms—hailed as one of the “Three Bs” of German music alongside Bach and Beethoven—you’ll be well on your way to becoming a classical music connoisseur.
His Symphony No.
1, composed with deep respect for Beethoven, was so strongly influenced by him that the conductor of its premiere, Hans von Bülow, famously called it “Beethoven’s Tenth Symphony.”
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Brahms’s masterpieces: Popular classical music (81–90)
Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 – Fourth MovementJohannes Brahms
This work is Brahms’s first symphony, yet it took him 21 years from conception to completion.
He revered Beethoven’s symphonies and agonized over the question, “I want to write a symphony, but what kind of piece could I possibly write after Beethoven?” The result, completed after overcoming that dilemma, was a work so highly regarded that the conductor Hans von Bülow called it “Beethoven’s Tenth Symphony.” Driven by a beautifully uplifting melody and propulsive rhythms, the piece unfolds and concludes with a power befitting the climax of the entire work.
Symphony No. 3, Op. 90, Movement IIIJohannes Brahms
The third movement of Johannes Brahms’s Symphony No.
3, composed in 1883, is a beautiful piece with a gentle, song-like character.
It is distinguished by an elegant, melancholic melody and a notably calm musicality.
It is said to reflect Brahms’s life philosophy of “free but lonely,” and its graceful, lyrical resonance leaves a deep impression.
The work became more widely beloved after it was used in the 1961 French film “Goodbye Again.” Combining quiet sorrow with beauty, it is perfect for moments of peaceful reflection or when you wish to experience profound emotion.
Symphony No. 3, Movement IIIJohannes Brahms
The premiere performer described it as “Brahms’s ‘Hero,’” but the overall mood of the piece evokes melancholy and romance rather than struggle.
Over the timbre of the woodwinds, the cello sings a sorrowful melody.
This theme has also been used in films and, with lyrics added, has been sung as popular music.
Academic Festival Overture in C minor, Op. 80Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms’s Academic Festival Overture in C minor, Op.
80, is perfect for adding color to a memorable graduation ceremony! Its lively melodies, as if blessing a brilliant new beginning, make a striking impression.
Since its premiere in 1881, this work has been loved in concerts and many other settings; based on German student songs, it captivates listeners with Brahms’s hallmark mastery of form.
If you want to send graduates off with the power of a weighty classic, this is the ideal piece for your ceremony.
String Sextet No. 2Johannes Brahms
A chamber work composed by Brahms in 1865.
Scored for two violins, two violas, and two cellos, it consists of four movements.
In the closing section of the second subject in the first movement, it is said that the name of his former lover, Agathe von Siebold, is spelled out in musical notes.
It can be seen as a work in which Brahms’s inner feelings and personal experiences are reflected in the music.
Its hallmarks are its weighty, profound expression, and the variations of the third movement especially showcase Brahms’s prowess as a composer of variations.
In the end, he broke up with Siebold, and the way the piece ends in an exalted, seemingly liberated state gives the impression that he has cut off lingering attachment.
String Sextet No. 2 in G majorJohannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms’s String Sextet, composed in 1865, is one of his representative works.
It is notable for incorporating the so-called “Agathe motif,” said to convey his feelings for his former lover Agathe von Siebold.
Although purely an instrumental piece, Brahms’s inner conflicts and experiences in love are expressed in its timbres.
It premiered in Boston in October 1866 and was performed in Zurich the following month.
It remains beloved today, appearing, for example, in the final scene of the film The Cement Garden.
This work, with its deep emotion and rich harmonies, is sure to leave you with a warm feeling.
Brahms’s Masterpieces: Popular Classical Music (91–100)
String Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 51 No. 1 – II. MovementJohannes Brahms
Released simultaneously with the String Quartet No.
2, both works are dedicated to his close friend Theodor Billroth, a renowned surgeon and amateur musician.
It is well known that Brahms was haunted by the towering specter of Beethoven when composing symphonies, taking more than twenty years to complete his Symphony No.
1.
He was equally cautious with his string quartets, spending at least eight years on the first two, which were unveiled together.
This is a deeply moving piece that combines gentle, sweet melodies with a touch of wistful longing.