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Posted on 09/13/2024 6:02:05 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska
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On his second try, Johannes Brahms (1833-97) managed to get a pitch meeting with Robert Schumann, who was not only a composer but publisher of the leading German language music magazine, a kind of mid-19th Century “Rolling Stone.” “Hats off, a genius,” read Bob’s review of Brahms’ piano sonatas and lieder (art songs where he set somebody else’s poem to music). Bob’s wife Clara, the leading pianist in the German speaking world, even handed Brahms her job as Artistic Director at the Detmold Winter Music Festival for two seasons. Bob and Clara welcomed Brahms into their home when they were on the road, Bob conducting and Clara on piano. While the parents were away, young Brahms – trim, athletic and wiry – taught the ever increasing Schumann brood important life skills such as how to properly slide down a bannister and swing from a chandelier.
A Brahms fan club was forming. And then he flushed it all away with his Piano Concerto #1 in D Minor, Op. 15.
Brahms had attended a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony #9 in D Minor, Op. 125, one of the greatest artifacts of Western Civilization. Like composers before him, he said, “I can do that!” No, he couldn’t! One movement of Brahms’ symphonic effort ended up in his “German Requiem” years later. The rest was geared down to a piano concerto.
Beethoven’s final effort in that genre, his Piano Concerto in E-flat, Op. 73, the “Emperor” Concerto, was the last word. By the time of Brahms, the piano concerto had decayed into a piece for individual pianists to show off their chops. Brahms now had a concerto full of big ideas, for which the public was not prepared. There was also the fact that the opening theme bore a suspicious resemblance to the opening of the Beethoven 9th. The concerto was one of the great shipwrecks of music history, and it took decades for it to enter the standard repertory. A good 24 years went by before Brahms would chance writing a second piano concerto. The Brahms fan club disappeared.
Enter Brahms’ friend, the violinist Joseph Joachim (“yo-AAA-kim”). Joe had an annual chamber music festival and needed a new quartet. The posters for this festival draw a laugh from modern readers: “The Joseph Joachim Chamber Music Festival, featuring the Joseph Joachim String Quartet, Joseph Joachim, first violinist.” Of the two violinists in the quartet, you could tell which was Joe because he played standing up while the others were seated.
Brahms write a string quartet? Not only no, but hell no! Go up against Beethoven, the last master of the string quartet? You must be out of your mind! There was no competition for string sextets, so Brahms sat down and wrote one of the great sextets in the repertory. To his credit, Joe didn’t bat an eyelash but hired an extra violist and cellist for the performance. The Sextet in B-flat, Op. 18, was an immediate hit. Brahms’ reputation was on the road to recovery.
Brahms understood he needed to go back to Square One and relearn his craft, which he did in the world of chamber music. Over the next decade and a half he wrote another sextet, 3 quartets for piano and strings, a quintet for piano and strings, a sonata for cello and piano, 3 string quartets and a trio for piano, violin and (French) horn.
At the end of his apprenticeship in chamber music, Brahms at age 43 finally published his Symphony #1 in C Minor, Op. 68, which took the world by storm, made him rich and got him into the Viennese establishment. Brahms got fat, grew a beard and traded in his four pack a day habit for top-shelf Cuban stogies, which he also chain smoked.
Tonight we’ll look into the “Horn Trio,” as it is known. Combining piano, violin and horn is most unusual. Brahms even wrote for the old “natural” hunting horn, which had no valves and was not able to play certain notes. He did this even though the modern valved horn had been available for decades.
There is a natural tendency for a composer to write hunting horn calls. Brahms showed iron discipline by not writing one single hunting horn call for the first three movements of the trio. But in the finale, Brahms cut loose and wrote a movement with nothing but hunting horn calls. It’s a fox hunt set to music, complete with a passage where the horses are watered by a stream. It’s sheer fun.
This is a 2021 performance from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in New York. That’s Pohjonen on piano, Huang on violin and Vlatkovic on horn. Note that Pohjonen is using an I-Pad rather than sheet music; it’s the latest trend.
Howdy, PRO.
Any fun plans for the weekend, like maybe some shooting range time with your son?
He was the Elvis of his time. Thanks for your usual insightful narrative accompanying the beautiful music.
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The Midnight Special...nice. Thanks...((HUGS))
Among My Souvenirs Marty Robbins- 1976
Mine?
Mine?
You must still be having stormy weather. LOL!
Bible in a Year :
He went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him.
Jocelyn’s bestselling dish at her food stall was her congee. She’d stir the rice porridge very carefully until it had a smooth consistency. So, she was startled when a regular customer said, “Your congee tastes different. The texture isn’t as fine.”
Jocelyn’s new assistant had prepared it this time and explained why it was different: “I didn’t stir it as long as the recipe said since that’s how I do it at home. I also added more sesame oil. In my opinion, it tastes better that way.” She had decided to ignore the recipe and do it her way instead.
This is how I sometimes respond to God’s instructions. Instead of fully obeying His commands as given in Scripture, I subject them to my opinions and proceed my way.
Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, was on the verge of making a similar mistake. On receiving God’s instruction through the prophet Elisha to wash himself in the Jordan so his leprosy would be healed, the proud soldier got angry. He had his own expectations for how his need ought to be addressed, believing his opinion was superior to God’s command (2 Kings 5:11-12). His servants, however, convinced him to listen to Elisha’s words (v. 13). As a result, Naaman was healed.
When we do things God’s way, we experience a peace that’s indescribable. Let’s work with Him in fulfilling His purposes.
Reflect & Pray
How do you allow your opinions to compromise your obedience to God? How does this affect His work in your life?
Dear God, please help me to obey You in full, for Your command far surpasses my opinion.
The Song of the Wanderer...nice versions.Thanks, Fiji...((HUGS))
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