I always find it amusing when music critics (Washington Post) spout forth their views... would love to see this woman's compositions and compare them to Brahms. She does, however, makes some interesting points.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...012102394.html
I happen to like Brahms' music very much. The symphonies are beautifully crafted with not a superfluous note to be found. The piano music is divine. I don't know much of his organ music (if any).
Incidentally IMO the closing few Bars of the second symphony send shivers down the spine...
NEB - for me shivers happen in the tumultuous climax of the Third Symphony's development section ... when the first and second fiddles are scurrying around with frantic quavers (1/4 notes) and f minor is the firm foundation.
I can't understand why the reviewer hates Brahms music. Methinks she had a brainfart.
Sweet Corn ... Brahms didn't add anything new to western music. Unlike Beethoven, Bach, Debussy, etc. But his voice is just so pleasing and original to be a joy forever.
Hi CT64,
Thanx for your sharing about Brahms. I am of the same impression about Brahms.
Cheers,
CD
Well nice reading. I still love Brahms, and have some ideas why some don't. He was a perfectionist, and the players can't make a show for themselfes. They just have to play the notes if they can read (understand) them.
Brahms was not looking back in his composition, he just used old form to write modern (in his days) music.
His 3 and 4 symphony is masterpieces with ”modern” difficult rythms, his last opus (for organ) is absolut looking forward.
But I like the reading anyway, there are many fine points and some irritating repeats of older Noel Coward fools.
Klemperer is dark in Brahms, Walter is the light and human, Furtwangler takes the 3. from the ground like a jumbojet, what a travel. Brahms needs knowing musicians.
The most of Brahms is vocal music, and in a good performance of his not vocal music you can sing along.
Like I said, Brahms is always beautifully crafted. Not even a rest out of place. I read somewhere that he really had to labour over his work rather than the perhaps 'easier flow' that others may have had (or in Mozart's case 'gush!') But the evidence of such dilligence is so obvious in the perfection of his writing. (IMO)
Goodness knows what that reviewer is thinking?
He may have his share of critics but Brahms certainly made amazing compositions in accordance to his preference of classicism.
To add to that effect, his approaches towards composition, if you use them as guidelines, certainly won't given you any unrealistic hopes or aspirations (he once said the most difficult thing to compose is a long adagio, which I find true) but would definitely bring out your own voice.
I also find him to be quite honest as his music is probably an honest statement about himself (he also said that usually the best ideas flow from the hand or mind without any particular effort eventually becoming ideas that endure in compositions), which could be why even though he labored (many songs written but few will be usable) he had his most spectacular works live on.
I haven't heard or played that much by Brahms, though I've recently played some of the Eleven Chorale Preludes for organ, and found them to be very fine indeed.
Daniel
I like some of his music like the famous lullbye. sorry I can't spell.
judy tooley
Yeah - Judy, that Lullaby is wonderful, so soothing and so restful. Mind you, I can't imagine trying to get a baby to sleep with Ride of the Valkyries ...
HaHa Ryde of the Valkyries, I don't think so. Or 1812 snore snore cymbals cry cry(poor baby). I do like Brahms, I love his violin concerto, and I remember singing his lullaby at school, don't know who was more tired after that us or the teacher.
But he is definately on my listen to list.
Margaret
Just a quick observation:
the beautiful 4th Symphony and
the sublime Chorale Preludes for organ
I would be far more than content to be able to churn out material like that!
On the game called Bookworm is the music from Brahms.
judy tooley
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