Brahms pt. 15a: we return to the life narrative of our great composer, picking up where we left him in the summer of 1879 adding the finishing touches to his D major violin concerto which he had written for and with the advice of his great friend, Joseph Joachim. This was the high point of their friendship and musical partnership; but for how long would the happy feelings last, and if they didn't, how long would it take Brahms to reclaim them?   Works heard in this episode in order (all by Brahms): - Hungarian Dances WoO 1 books 3-4, nos. 11-21 17. in F Sharp Minor (Andantino) 18. in D ma ..read more

Pt. 12:  It is early November 1876 and Brahms is in the audience as the orchestra at Carlsruhe premieres his first symphony in C minor. The concert goes better than expected and riding high on his success, Brahms performs the symphony many more times elsewhere. Its positive reception gladdened his heart and he quickly produced another symphony to celebrate, then a series of other wonderful works including the first violin sonata in G major, and the monumental violin concerto for Joseph Joachim.  Works heard in this episode in order (all by Brahms): -Symphony no. 2 in D major op. 73 ..read more

It is summer 1876. Brahms is vacationing with his friend George Henschel on the Baltic island or Rügen and finishing work on his first symphony in C minor... Works heard in this episode (all by Brahms): Symphony no. 1 in C minor op. 68 Excerpts: performed by Chang Ji, Mrs. the GCP - mvt. 1 mm. 1-2, mm. 41, mm. 42-46 - mvt. 4 mm. 1-3, mm. 12-14 ...by The GCP House Orchestra... - mvt. 4 mm. 30-38, mm. 61-78   Complete performance by the "Musopen Symphony" 1. Un Poco Sostenuto - Allegro 2. Andante sostenuto 3. Un poco Allegretto e grazioso 4. Adagio. Più andante. Allegro non troppo, ma con b ..read more

It is December 1871 and Johannes Brahms has finally established permanent residence in the music loving city of Vienna. Still, his thoughts remain in Hamburg for a time as his family slowly start to drift away from him... He himself then drifted for a time, compositionally at least. He would begin his new position as Artistic Director of the Gesellschaft der Musik Freunde in Fall 1872 which made him so busy he hardly had time to compose. Except during the summers, when he would disappear from their sight, as it were, and work on his music. And what incredible music it would be: two string ..read more

I am pleased to be joined during this episode by Alan Walker, celebrated author of biographies of Franz Liszt, Frederick Chopin and others, and acclaimed concert pianist Daniel Vnukowski. We discuss Liszt, Chopin, and Schumann, taking a look at their lives and music from the perspectives of biographer and performer.  Vnukowski and Dr. Walker present "In the Footsteps of Chopin" on Wednesday June 23rd 7pm Eastern, a free virtual event a part of the Collingwood Music Festival's Summer Solstice Series. You can RSVP to using the link below. See you there! https://collingwoodfestival.com/event ..read more

Ep. 43 – It is Good Friday, April 10, 1868 in Bremen and Brahms has just finished giving the premiere of his German Requiem. It is a complete triumph but one not celebrated with wild applause, the work is too grave for that. Instead, attendees of the premiere listened with glad hearts and in reverence, awe really of the work’s creator. Thus, Johannes Brahms became an internationally recognized composer of considerable importance and some measure of celebrity. Works heard in this episode (all by Brahms): -Requiem mvt. 4 "How Lovely is They Dwelling Place" mvt. 5 "And Ye Now are Sorrowful"  ..read more

Ep 42(b) - It is early 1865. Brahms's mother has just passed away. Filled with emotion he grudgingly moves from winter to spring, entering a long period of deep and private mourning during which he would retreat into himself for a time in order to gather his thoughts and energies, and orient them toward a grand act of artistic creation in which he would immortalize his beloved mother and through which his artist soul would be elevated and ennobled and made pure.  ----------------- Subscribe on iTunes and give us a 5-star review! Share with your friends! download our app! Visit and like ou ..read more

Ep. 42(a) - It is late November 1862. We find Johannes Brahms in Vienna making a great success of himself for once but reeling from a devastating blow given him by the musical establishment of Hamburg. He will try to pick himself up and carry on with his work, compartmentalizing the tenderness he felt for one place from the bitterness for the other so that he might do so. And then further troubles to deal with: family strife and division that will make his life more difficult than ever; a loss that will wrench his heart and cause him the greatest pain, one for which tears aplenty would not be ..read more

In Ep. 41 Johannes Brahms continues his toil, conducing the ladies' choir, playing concerts, and composing; working to build a life and career brick by brick with the sweat of his brow and the help of his friends. He hoped for a permanent position in Hamburg that would lead to a settled, traditional life and some financial security. Brahms's efforts were geared toward turning hope into reality, but it remained to be seen whether the music masters of Hamburg would smooth his way or block it. If Brahms found a professional and therefore personal dead end in Hamburg where else might he go? Could ..read more

In ep. 40 we find Johannes Brahms struggling to recover and learn from the defeat of his D minor Piano Concerto at Leipzig's Gewandhaus in January 1859. Despite nearing mastery in his craft and the untiring support of his friends he was yet unable to find a consistently appreciative audience. Success and failure, ridicule and praise, applause and hissing followed Brahms wherever he and his music went. By the Spring of 1860 his frustration and anger had grown so much that he lashed out at one of the greatest musical personalities of the age, Franz Liszt, in the most unlikely way and with pitifu ..read more