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26 Inspiring Quotes By Johannes Brahms For The Tunesmiths

Famous As: One of the Romantic Period's Most Revered and Popular Composers
Born On: May 7, 1833
Died On: April 3, 1897
Born In: Hamburg, Germany
Died At Age: 63
Johannes Brahms was a prominent German pianist and composer of the Romantic period. He was born into a Lutheran family in Hamburg and spent a major part of his professional life in Austria. Such was Brahms reputation and status as a composer that Hans von Bulow, the conductor from the nineteenth century, considered him as one of the ‘Three B’s’ of music and grouped him with Ludwig van Beethoven and Johann Sebastian Bach. He premiered many of his own works and was a virtuoso pianist. He made compositions for chorus, organ, voice, orchestra, piano and chamber ensembles. We have gathered some quotes and sayings by Johannes Brahms which have been extracted from his enormous works, compositions, music, writings, thoughts and life. Go through the quotes and thoughts by Johannes Brahms that will make you fall in love with music again.
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What would become of all historical biography if it was written only with consideration for other peoples' feelings?

What would become of all historical biography if it was written only with consideration for other peoples' feelings?

Johannes Brahms
How lucky is the man who, like Mozart and others, goes to the tavern of an evening and writes some fresh music. For he lives while he is creating.

How lucky is the man who, like Mozart and others, goes to the tavern of an evening and writes some fresh music. For he lives while he is creating.

Johannes Brahms
Straightaway the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God.

Straightaway the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God.

Johannes Brahms
Ah, that tastes nice. Thank you.

Ah, that tastes nice. Thank you.

Johannes Brahms
To follow in Beethoven's footsteps transcends one's strength.

To follow in Beethoven's footsteps transcends one's strength.

Johannes Brahms
The fact that most people do not understand and respect the very best things, such as Mozart's concertos, is what permits men like us to become famous.

The fact that most people do not understand and respect the very best things, such as Mozart's concertos, is what permits men like us to become famous.

Johannes Brahms
Those are miracles that no merely human brain can work. The artist is merely the sound conduct of a Force that dictates to him what he should do.

Those are miracles that no merely human brain can work. The artist is merely the sound conduct of a Force that dictates to him what he should do.

Johannes Brahms
My things really are written with an appalling lack of practicality!

My things really are written with an appalling lack of practicality!

Johannes Brahms
It is not hard to compose but it is wonderfully hard to let the superfluous notes fall under the table. . . So many melodies fly about, one must be careful not to tread on them.

It is not hard to compose but it is wonderfully hard to let the superfluous notes fall under the table. . . So many melodies fly about, one must be careful not to tread on them.

Johannes Brahms
The only true immortality lies in one's children.

The only true immortality lies in one's children.

Johannes Brahms
Reviewer: 'One of your themes was very similar to one of Beethoven's!' Brahms replied, 'Of course it is. Everyone steals - the important thing is to do it brilliantly.

Reviewer: 'One of your themes was very similar to one of Beethoven's!' Brahms replied, 'Of course it is. Everyone steals - the important thing is to do it brilliantly.

Johannes Brahms
If we cannot write with the beauty of Mozart, let us at least try to write with his purity.

If we cannot write with the beauty of Mozart, let us at least try to write with his purity.

Johannes Brahms
Study Bach. There you will find everything.

Study Bach. There you will find everything.

Johannes Brahms
It is a real pleasure to see music so bright and spontaneous expressed with corresponding ease and grace.

It is a real pleasure to see music so bright and spontaneous expressed with corresponding ease and grace.

Johannes Brahms
The idea comes to me from outside of me - and is like a gift. I then take the idea and make it my own - that is where the skill lies.

The idea comes to me from outside of me - and is like a gift. I then take the idea and make it my own - that is where the skill lies.

Johannes Brahms
One should never forget that by actually perfecting one piece one gains and learns more than by starting or half-finishing a dozen.

One should never forget that by actually perfecting one piece one gains and learns more than by starting or half-finishing a dozen.

Johannes Brahms
I sometimes ponder on variation form and it seems to me it ought to be more restrained, purer.

I sometimes ponder on variation form and it seems to me it ought to be more restrained, purer.

Johannes Brahms
If there is anyone here whom I have not insulted, I beg his pardon.

If there is anyone here whom I have not insulted, I beg his pardon.

Johannes Brahms
We cling nervously to the melody, but we don't handle it freely, we don't really make anything new out of it, we merely overload it.

We cling nervously to the melody, but we don't handle it freely, we don't really make anything new out of it, we merely overload it.

Johannes Brahms

Those who enjoy their own emotionally bad health and who habitually fill their own minds with the rank poisons of suspicion, jealousy and hatred, as a rule take umbrage at those who refuse to do likewise, and they find a perverted relief in trying to denigrate them.

Johannes Brahms
Straight-away the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God, and not only do I see distinct themes in my mind's eye, but they are clothed in the right forms, harmonies, and orchestration.

Straight-away the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God, and not only do I see distinct themes in my mind's eye, but they are clothed in the right forms, harmonies, and orchestration.

Johannes Brahms
A symphony is no joke.

A symphony is no joke.

Johannes Brahms
Composers in the old days used to keep strictly to the base of the theme, as their real subject. Beethoven varies the melody, harmony and rhythms so beautifully.

Composers in the old days used to keep strictly to the base of the theme, as their real subject. Beethoven varies the melody, harmony and rhythms so beautifully.

Johannes Brahms
It is not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table.

It is not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table.

Johannes Brahms

In my study I can lay my hand on the Bible in the pitch dark. All truly inspired ideas come from God. The powers from which all truly great composers like Mozart, Schubert, Bach and Beethoven drew their inspirations is the same power that enabled Jesus to do his miracles.

Johannes Brahms
Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.

Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.

Johannes Brahms