Johannes Brahms: A Biography
by Jan Swafford
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jan SwaffordEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1999-12-07
ISBN: 0679745823
Number of pages: 752
Publisher: Vintage
Book Reviews of Johannes Brahms: A Biography
Book Review: Excellent book, and questions remain...
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the most enjoyable book I've read (so far) in 2009. As an amateur pianist I've been witness to the glory that is Brahms (e.g. shorter piano works; "veiled symphonies", as Robert Schumann referred to some of Brahms' piano compositions). This thoroughly researched yet non-technical (not too much to get in the way of a layperson's enjoyment) book brought to life not only this great man, but the dying age that he lived in. To understand how this person, from such humble beginnings could, in his 20s, be anointed the next Beethoven by Schumann, and go on to fulfill that prophesy "in the tramp of giants" is a story to behold, and Mr. Swafford does an excellent job. To also understand that Brahms destroyed so much of his work, yet so much remains, is also to give us a sense of the prodigious genius of this great master. And his gift with words (letters to Clara, friends, colleagues) reminds us that he was no less capable in that craft.
However, in my mind questions remain. Although I respect the author's restraint from speculating about Brahms' romantic relationships, I find it hard to believe that he would have only taken inspiration 'figuratively' from the many women who loved and admired him from within his social circles only to find 'fulfillment' in the brothels. As good as Brahms was in protecting his privacy, I think there's more here than meets the eye, and a separate thesis from some music or psychology phD candidate into the sexual psychology of Brahms (speculation and all) could at the very least prove entertaining.
I don't agree with the author's assessment that Brahms was a misogynist. His early experiences (or not) playing in the waterfront bars may have shaped his attitude toward women, but too many examples of him helping women in their careers and his 'affairs of the heart' lead me to conclude that he was an 'equal opportunity abuser', in that he could be ruthless regardless of gender (he could also be very kind and generous). Such may be the curse of genius, having those of us from below pigeonholing an eagle.
My other nits include a bit of redundancy in the book, but forgivable due to its length. What is less forgivable is the use of German terms that are only defined once within the text, and no glossary for them (and they are referred to frequently). Not easy to find in a 700 page book over the course of some weeks of reading (write them down as you go is my advice). I had planned to deduct a star for these nits, but in the end the overall enjoyment of the book trumps all.
Again, a wonderful book about a great genius, composer and man, in the context of a golden age that's on its last legs. They just don't make 'em like this anymore. Enjoy.
Summary of Johannes Brahms: A Biography
A New York Times Notable Book"This brilliant and magisterial book is a very good bet to...become the definitive study of Johannes Brahms."--The Plain Dealer
Judicious, compassionate, and full of insight into Brahms's human complexity as well as his music, Johannes Brahms is an indispensable biography.
Proclaimed the new messiah of Romanticism by Robert Schumann when he was only twenty, Johannes Brahms dedicated himself to a long and extraordinarily productive career. In this book, Jan Swafford sets out to reveal the little-known Brahms, the boy who grew up in mercantile Hamburg and played piano in beer halls among prostitutes and drunken sailors, the fiercely self-protective man who thwarted future biographers by burning papers, scores and notebooks late in his life. Making unprecedented use of the remaining archival material, Swafford offers richly expanded perspectives on Brahms's youth, on his difficult romantic life--particularly his longstanding relationship with Clara Schumann--and on his professional rivalry with Lizst and Wagner.
"[Johannes Brahms] will no doubt stand as the definitive work on Brahms, one of the monumental biographies in the entire musical library."--London Weekly Standard
"It is a measure of the accomplishment of Jan Swafford's biography that Brahms's sadness becomes palpable.... [Swafford] manages to construct a full-bodied human being."--The New York Times Book Review
The brilliant biographer of a quintessentially American, prototypically modern musician (Charles Ives) proves just as masterful in probing the life and art of a 19th-century German composer. Writing with passionate clarity that perfectly matches the genius of Brahms (1833-97), Jan Swafford traces the emotional wellsprings of this secretive man's music without trivializing art into mere autobiography. A composer himself, Swafford understands and lucidly conveys Brahms's unique position in musical history: beloved by many, emulated by few, the triumphant yet melancholy heir of a tradition coming to an end in his lifetime.
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