Brahms
Johannes Brahms
was born on 7 May, 1833
in
Hamburg. His
father was
a double bass player
with the Hamburg
opera, and recognised
Johannes'
talent early on. Although the family
was rather poor,
a great emphasis
was placed on education for all the
children, and
Johannes studied
the piano from the age of seven and
theory and
composition from 13.
His first public performance as a solo
pianist was in
1847 at the age of
14. By 1848 he had begun to make his
living by playing
in taverns and dance
halls. As Brahms matured, and
especially after
he settled in Vienna
in 1868, with its more relaxed
atmosphere, both
Brahms and his music
mellowed. As he grew older still,
an autumnal
sadness crept into his compositions.
Johannes Brahms died
on 3 April, 1897
of liver cancer.