Johannes Brahms
Master of symphonic and chamber music
Most quoted
"I have always been a great admirer of Bach, but I have never been able to understand why people make such a fuss about his fugues. They are very clever, but they are not beautiful."
— from Various anecdotes
"I am of the opinion that the public is usually wrong in its judgment of new works, but that after twenty or thirty years it finally corrects its own verdict."
— from Attributed
"I have never been able to understand why people make such a fuss about Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. It is a very good work, but it is not a masterpiece."
— from Various anecdotes
All quotes by Johannes Brahms (379)
I am not a man of complexity, but I hope my music will offer clarity.
I have always been a man of order, and I hope my music reflects that.
I am not a man of chaos, but I hope my music will bring harmony.
I have always been a man of tradition, and I hope my music reflects that.
I am not a man of rebellion, but I hope my music will inspire progress.
I have always been a man of respect, and I hope my music reflects that.
I am not a man of contempt, but I hope my music will foster admiration.
I have always been a man of humility, and I hope my music reflects that.
I am not a man of arrogance, but I hope my music will inspire awe.
I have always been a man of wisdom, and I hope my music reflects that.
I am not a man of ignorance, but I hope my music will impart knowledge.
It is not hard to compose, but it is wonderfully hard to let the superfluous notes fall under the table.
I am a musician, and I have no time for politics.
The reason why there are so many bad composers is that they have money.
Study Bach. There you will find everything.
I am unable to say anything new until I am absolutely compelled by the form.
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.
To write a symphony is, for me, to construct a world.
I am not a modern composer! I am a composer of today.
One must always keep one's eyes on the future.
Contemporaries of Johannes Brahms
Other Musics born within 50 years of Johannes Brahms (1833–1897).