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Brahms became quite the modern entrepreneur. These days, we walk out of the concert hall or recital room to be met by displays of the “Latest CD”. Brahms usually had the sheet music for 4 hand piano versions of the concert pieces on sale at the venue. Most Viennese families had at least two members proficient on the piano. It not only meant more profit from the concert, but it spread his music far and wide amongst the citizens who couldn’t get to the concert. Even “A German Requiem”, as big a piece of music as one can hear, (often heard with over 200 performers) has not only a version for choir, soloists and two pianos; but a setting for two pianos alone!

Brahms became quite the modern entrepreneur. These days, we walk out of the concert hall or recital room to be met by displays of the “Latest CD”. Brahms usually had the sheet music for 4 hand piano versions of the concert pieces on sale at the venue. Most Viennese families had at least two members proficient on the piano. It not only meant more profit from the concert, but it spread his music far and wide amongst the citizens who couldn’t get to the concert. Even “A German Requiem”, as big a piece of music as one can hear, (often heard with over 200 performers) has not only a version for choir, soloists and two pianos; but a setting for two pianos alone!

Reviewing the first performance of Symphony No. 1, critic Eduard Hanslick suggested that Brahms had relied rather too heavily on Beethoven, and that the regal string melody of the fourth movement was strikingly similar to Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" . Conductor Hans von Bülow agreed with Hanslick's assessment, and memorably tagged the piece "Beethoven's Tenth"<ref> http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/brahms_sym1.html </ref>.

Reviewing the first performance of Symphony No. 1, critic Eduard Hanslick suggested that Brahms had relied rather too heavily on Beethoven, and that the regal string melody of the fourth movement was strikingly similar to Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" . Conductor Hans von Bülow agreed with Hanslick's assessment, and memorably tagged the piece "Beethoven's Tenth".<ref>http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/brahms_sym1.html</ref>

Brahms is perhaps the major 19th-century composer we know the least about. This was born out of his consciousness regarding his legacy: Towards the end of his life he burned most of his letters, as well as every composition he deemed "unworthy" (among string quartets alone, he is said to have burned twenty compositions). For this reason, a number of points about Brahms' life is shrouded in mystery, the most infamous being the conditions of his teenage jobs. Although their social status is contended, it is well known that Johannes' father was a spendthrift. It has been claimed that Brahms had to help increase the family income by working as a brothel pianist <ref>http://www.teach12.com/ttcx/CourseDescLong2.aspx?cid=757</ref> (something that would explain his inability to commit himself to women later in life), but it has never been finally confirmed. The stories and anecdotes regarding Brahms' childhood are often contradictory, so it is unlikely that we will ever know for certain which version is correct. <ref>http://www.jstor.org/stable/1555190</ref>

Brahms is perhaps the major 19th-century composer we know the least about. This was born out of his consciousness regarding his legacy: Towards the end of his life he burned most of his letters, as well as every composition he deemed "unworthy" (among string quartets alone, he is said to have burned twenty compositions). For this reason, a number of points about Brahms' life is shrouded in mystery, the most infamous being the conditions of his teenage jobs. Although their social status is contended, it is well known that Johannes' father was a spendthrift. It has been claimed that Brahms had to help increase the family income by working as a brothel pianist <ref>http://www.teach12.com/ttcx/CourseDescLong2.aspx?cid=757</ref> (something that would explain his inability to commit himself to women later in life), but it has never been finally confirmed. The stories and anecdotes regarding Brahms' childhood are often contradictory, so it is unlikely that we will ever know for certain which version is correct.<ref>http://www.jstor.org/stable/1555190</ref>

== See also ==

== See also ==

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Brahms,Johannes}}

[[category:composers]]

[[Category:Composers]]

[[category:pianists]]

[[Category:Pianists]]