Brahms in Context

Composers in Context

by Natasha Loges (Editor), Katy Hamilton (Editor)

Brahms in Context offers a fresh perspective on the much-admired nineteenth-century German composer. Including thirty-nine chapters on historical, social and cultural contexts, the book brings together internationally renowned experts in music, law, science, art history and other areas, including many figures whose work is appearing in English for the first time. The essays are accessibly written, with short reading lists aimed at music students and educators. The book opens with personal topics including Brahms's Hamburg childhood, his move to Vienna, and his rich social life. It considers professional matters from finance to publishing and copyright; the musicians who shaped and transmitted his works; and the larger musical styles which influenced him. Casting the net wider, other essays embrace politics, religion, literature, philosophy, art, and science. The book closes with chapters on reception, including recordings, historical performance, his compositional legacy, and a reflection on the power of composer myths.

432 pages, Hardcover

Published June 20, 2019

Reviews

[Sonya Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely useful addition to the world of Brahms scholarship. With all the misinformation and exaggeration present in other academic literature about Brahms, this stands out as a comprehensive and historically informed analysis of his work and surrounding historical context.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most chapters simply regurgitate facts in a nondynamic way. I had to sift through a lot of this to get to some of the more interesting chapters, like "Conductors" and "Philosophy".