Full Description
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.
Contents
1. Childhood in Hamburg Renate Hofmann and Kurt Hofmann; 2. The Schumanns Thomas Synofzik; 3. Vienna Camille Crittenden; 4. Leipzig and Berlin Karen Leistra-Jones; 5. Personal habits William Horne; 6. Correspondence Wolfgang Sandberger; 7. Holidays Inga-Mai Groote; 8. Finances Jakob Hauschildt; 9. As pianist Katrin Eich; 10. As conductor Walter Frisch; 11. As arranger Valerie Goertzen; 12. As editor Peter Schmitz; 13. As teacher Johannes Behr; 14. Private music-making Katy Hamilton; 15. Concert life Laurenz Lütteken; 16. Genre Matthew Gelbart; 17. Folk music George Bozarth; 18. Early music Virginia Hancock; 19. Singers Natasha Loges; 20. Conductors Leon Botstein; 21. Pianists Michael Musgrave; 22. Other instrumentalists Heather Platt; 23. Instruments Anneke Scott; 24. Publishers Peter Schmitz; 25. Copyright Friedemann Kawohl; 26. Politics and religion David Brodbeck; 27. Literature Natasha Loges; 28. Philosophy Nicole Grimes; 29. Visual arts William Vaughan and Natasha Loges; 30. Science and technology Myles Jackson and Katy Hamilton; 31. Germany Johannes Behr; 32. England Katy Hamilton; 33. Analysis Heather Platt; 34. The era of national socialism Ulrike Petersen; 35. Editing Brahms Michael Struck; 36. Recordings Ivan Hewett; 37. Historical performance Michael Musgrave; 38. Inspiration Markus Böggemann; 39. Mythmaking Natasha Loges and Katy Hamilton.
