Brahms

**Johannes Brahms** was a German composer and pianist of the Romantic period, widely celebrated for his symphonies, choral works, chamber music, and piano pieces. Known for his meticulous craftsmanship and emotional depth, Brahms is often considered one of the "Three Bs" alongside Bach and Beethoven. His music balances the traditional structures and rigor of the classical era with the expressive qualities of Romanticism. Despite his resistance to programmatic and overtly emotional music typical of his time, his works are celebrated for their structural complexity and lyrical beauty.

### Key Works and Themes

1. **Symphonies**:

   - **Symphony No. 1 in C Minor**: Often nicknamed “Beethoven’s Tenth” because of its thematic similarities to Beethoven's works, particularly the "Ode to Joy" motif in its finale. This symphony took Brahms over 20 years to complete, as he felt the pressure of Beethoven’s legacy.

   - **Symphony No. 3 in F Major**: Known for its recurring *F–A–F* motif, symbolizing “frei aber froh” (“free but happy”), a personal motto of Brahms.

   - **Symphony No. 4 in E Minor**: The finale of this symphony features a passacaglia based on a theme from Bach’s *Cantata No. 150*, making it one of the most structurally ambitious movements in the symphonic repertoire.

2. **Choral Works**:

   - **A German Requiem**: Composed using texts from the Lutheran Bible rather than the traditional Latin Requiem Mass, this piece was inspired by the death of Brahms’s mother and his mentor Robert Schumann. It is deeply introspective and comforting rather than focusing on judgment and salvation.

3. **Academic Festival Overture and Tragic Overture**:

   - The *Academic Festival Overture* is a joyous piece incorporating various student drinking songs, written as a thank-you for an honorary doctorate from the University of Breslau. The *Tragic Overture*, by contrast, is dark and serious, reflecting Brahms’s interest in creating works with contrasting moods.

4. **Hungarian Dances**:

   - This collection of 21 lively pieces for piano four-hands, later orchestrated, draws on Hungarian folk music. These dances became some of Brahms’s most popular compositions and showcase his interest in folk influences.

5. **Lullaby (Wiegenlied)**:

   - Also known as "Brahms's Lullaby," this piece is one of the most famous lullabies in the world. It was composed for a friend’s child and is often performed to soothe infants.

6. **Piano Works and Chamber Music**:

   - Brahms wrote a significant amount of chamber music, including two piano concertos, a violin concerto dedicated to his friend Joseph Joachim, and the *Piano Quintet in F Minor*. His later works include clarinet pieces for Richard Mühlfeld, showing his affinity for rich, mellow tones.

### Frequent Clues for Quizbowl

1. **"Beethoven’s Tenth"**: This nickname often refers to Brahms's *Symphony No. 1* due to its similarities to Beethoven’s style and themes.

2. **A German Requiem**: Known for using the Luther Bible rather than traditional Latin texts, it was inspired by the deaths of his mother and Robert Schumann. The piece focuses on comfort for the living rather than prayers for the dead.

3. **Academic Festival Overture**: Composed to thank the University of Breslau for an honorary degree, this piece incorporates the student drinking song "Gaudeamus igitur."

4. **Tragic Overture**: Often mentioned as a companion piece to the Academic Festival Overture, this work contrasts its jubilant counterpart with a somber tone.

5. **Hungarian Dances**: A set of 21 pieces that capture the spirit of Hungarian folk music, originally written for piano four-hands and later orchestrated.

6. **Clarinet Works**: Late in his life, Brahms wrote several works for clarinet, including a clarinet quintet and two clarinet sonatas, inspired by the clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld.

7. **Frei aber froh (F–A–F)**: This motif, translating to “free but happy,” appears in his *Symphony No. 3* and symbolizes Brahms’s outlook on life.

### Related Quizbowl Facts with Fill-in-the-Blanks

1. *Brahms’s first symphony*, known as “Beethoven’s ___1___,” was described as similar in style to Beethoven’s "Ode to Joy."

2. The *German ___2___*, Brahms’s largest choral work, uses texts from the Luther Bible instead of traditional Latin liturgy.

3. Brahms thanked the University of Breslau for an honorary degree by writing the *Academic Festival ___3___*, which includes the drinking song “Gaudeamus igitur.”

4. Brahms’s *Hungarian ___4___* are a set of 21 pieces inspired by Hungarian folk music, originally written for piano four-hands.

5. The final movement of Brahms’s *Symphony No. 4* is a ___5___ based on a Bach cantata, demonstrating Brahms’s deep respect for classical forms.

6. Brahms’s *Piano ___6___ No. 2* features an unusual cello solo in the third movement, adding to its distinctiveness in the concerto repertoire.

7. His *Violin ___7___* in D major was written for his friend, the violinist Joseph Joachim, who also composed the cadenza.

### Fill-in-the-Blanks Answers

1. Tenth

2. Requiem

3. Overture

4. Dances

5. Passacaglia

6. Concerto

7. Concerto

These terms and references are all related to the life, compositions, and stylistic influences of Johannes Brahms, a major German composer of the Romantic period. They encompass his most famous works, specific musical motifs, important relationships, and stylistic influences.

1. **First Symphony ("Beethoven's Tenth")** - 52 occurrences  

   Brahms’s *First Symphony* is sometimes called "Beethoven's Tenth" due to its grandeur and the influence of Beethoven’s style. This work cemented Brahms’s reputation and highlighted his ambition to follow in Beethoven's symphonic tradition.

2. **Academic Festival Overture** - 43 occurrences  

   This is a lighthearted overture Brahms composed in response to receiving an honorary doctorate. It incorporates student drinking songs, most famously *Gaudeamus igitur*.

3. **A German Requiem** - 41 occurrences  

   Brahms’s *German Requiem* is a large-scale choral work offering comfort to the living, using text from the German Bible rather than the traditional Latin Mass for the Dead.

4. **Lullaby ("Wiegenlied")** - 40 occurrences  

   Brahms’s *Lullaby* is one of his most famous melodies, often sung to lull children to sleep. It’s a gentle and universally recognized piece.

5. **Fourth Symphony (Passacaglia Finale)** - 39 occurrences  

   The final movement of Brahms's *Fourth Symphony* is a passacaglia, a variation form inspired by Baroque techniques. This complex and powerful movement showcases Brahms's mastery of counterpoint.

6. **Hungarian Dances** - 31 occurrences  

   Brahms's *Hungarian Dances* are lively pieces based on Hungarian folk themes. These works were highly popular in his lifetime and remain widely performed.

7. **Tragic Overture** - 23 occurrences  

   Brahms wrote the *Tragic Overture* to contrast with the lighthearted *Academic Festival Overture*. It’s a somber and intense orchestral work.

8. **"Frei aber froh" (Free but happy) motif** - 21 occurrences  

   Brahms’s personal motto, "Frei aber froh" (Free but happy), is represented musically by the notes F-A-F, which appear in some of his works, especially in his *Third Symphony*.

9. **Clarinet works for Richard Mühlfeld** - 20 occurrences  

   Late in life, Brahms composed several pieces for the clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld, including a clarinet quintet and two clarinet sonatas, revitalizing the instrument's repertoire.

10. **Variations on a Theme by Haydn** - 18 occurrences  

   Brahms’s *Variations on a Theme by Haydn* is one of his best-known orchestral works. It showcases his skill in theme and variation form and honors Classical tradition.

11. **Joseph Joachim** - 17 occurrences  

   Violinist Joseph Joachim was a close friend and collaborator of Brahms. Brahms wrote his *Violin Concerto* with Joachim in mind and valued his musical advice.

12. **Second Symphony** - 16 occurrences  

   Brahms’s *Second Symphony* is known for its warm, pastoral quality. Often considered more relaxed than his *First Symphony*, it is beloved for its lyrical and serene mood.

13. **Third Symphony (F-A-F motif)** - 15 occurrences  

   Brahms’s *Third Symphony* features the F-A-F (Frei aber froh) motif, reflecting his personal motto, “Free but happy.” This work is notable for its introspective character and innovative quiet endings.

14. **Violin Concerto** - 15 occurrences  

   Brahms’s *Violin Concerto* was written for Joseph Joachim and is one of the cornerstones of the violin repertoire, known for its technical demands and emotional depth.

15. **Double Concerto** - 13 occurrences  

   Brahms’s *Double Concerto* for violin and cello was composed to reconcile with Joseph Joachim after a rift. It’s a unique work in the concerto repertoire.

16. **Piano Concerto No. 1** - 11 occurrences  

   Brahms’s *Piano Concerto No. 1* is a powerful, symphonic work that initially received mixed reviews but is now regarded as one of the great Romantic piano concertos.

17. **Piano Concerto No. 2** - 11 occurrences  

   Brahms’s *Second Piano Concerto* is expansive and symphonic, featuring a notable cello solo in the third movement, adding a chamber music-like quality to the concerto.

18. **Bach influence (Passacaglia/Chaconne references)** - 10 occurrences  

   Brahms admired Bach, and this influence is evident in his use of Baroque forms, such as the passacaglia in the *Fourth Symphony*, showcasing his skill in counterpoint and variation.

19. **Clara Schumann** - 9 occurrences  

   Clara Schumann, a pianist and composer, was a close friend and muse for Brahms. Their relationship deeply influenced his life and music.

20. **String Quintet/Piano Quintet** - 7 occurrences  

   Brahms composed several quintets, including a *Piano Quintet* and two *String Quintets*, known for their rich textures and complex interplay among the instruments.

21. **Handel Variations** - 7 occurrences  

   Brahms’s *Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel* for piano is a set of variations demonstrating his virtuosity and love for Baroque music.

22. **Horn Trio** - 7 occurrences  

   Brahms’s *Horn Trio* combines horn, violin, and piano, an unusual ensemble at the time, and reflects his appreciation for folk-like melodies and rich harmonic textures.

23. **F-A-E Sonata** - 5 occurrences  

   The *F-A-E Sonata* was a collaborative work by Brahms, Robert Schumann, and Albert Dietrich, composed as a tribute to violinist Joseph Joachim. The letters F-A-E refer to Joachim’s motto, "Frei aber einsam" (Free but lonely).

24. **Alphorn theme (in First Symphony)** - 5 occurrences  

   The final movement of Brahms’s *First Symphony* includes an alphorn-inspired theme, which adds a rustic, pastoral quality to the symphony.

25. **Schoenberg essay "Brahms the Progressive"** - 4 occurrences  

   In his essay, Schoenberg argued that Brahms was a progressive composer, using complex structures and developing variation techniques that influenced 20th-century music.

26. **Fifth Hungarian Dance (based on csárdás by Kéler Béla)** - 4 occurrences  

   The famous *Hungarian Dance No. 5* is based on a csárdás by Kéler Béla. Brahms’s Hungarian Dances drew from Hungarian folk styles, though he sometimes adapted existing melodies.

27. **Liebeslieder Waltzes** - 4 occurrences  

   Brahms’s *Liebeslieder Waltzes* are charming vocal pieces for four voices and piano, inspired by Viennese dance music and reflecting his interest in folk styles.

28. **Passacaglia/Chaconne form (general reference)** - 4 occurrences  

   Brahms often used variation forms like the passacaglia and chaconne, particularly in his *Fourth Symphony*, demonstrating his mastery of classical forms and influence from Baroque music.

29. **Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel** - 4 occurrences  

   This set of variations for piano is one of Brahms’s most famous solo piano works, showcasing his virtuosity and his admiration for Baroque composers.

30. **Piano Trio No. 1** - 3 occurrences  

   Brahms’s *Piano Trio No. 1* is one of his early chamber works and is notable for its lyricism and structural sophistication, with several revisions made throughout his life.

31. **Alto Rhapsody** - 3 occurrences  

   Brahms’s *Alto Rhapsody* is a vocal work for alto, male choir, and orchestra, inspired by a Goethe poem. It is deeply expressive and introspective.

32. **Second Piano Concerto's cello solo** - 3 occurrences  

   The *Second Piano Concerto* features an unusual and beautiful cello solo in its third movement, contributing to the concerto’s lyrical and chamber-like quality.

33. **"Gaudeamus igitur" in Academic Festival Overture** - 3 occurrences  

   In the *Academic Festival Overture*, Brahms includes the student song *Gaudeamus igitur*, adding a festive and humorous touch to the piece.

34. **Symphony No. 3’s quiet endings in all movements** - 3 occurrences  

   Each movement of Brahms’s *Third Symphony* ends quietly, which was unusual for symphonies of the time, adding a sense of introspection and subtlety to the work.