John Bell Young guides the listener through a wide selection of Brahms's works in detail, culminating in a discussion of the beloved German Requiem. Young's commentary considers various aspects of the composer's life, including the views of his peers and his complex relationships with women, always putting Brahms's compelling music in the context of his times and his environment. The accompanying CD features performances from the Music & Arts and Gallo labels and, for the first time in the Unlocking the Masters series, recordings made specifically for this book.