Date of Award

2010

Type

Thesis

Major

Music Performance - Instrumental Concentration

Department

Schwob School of Music

First Advisor

Lisa Oberlander

Abstract

Johannes Brahms (1883-1897) originally planned to retire from composing after completing his String Quintet in G Major ("Prater"), Op. 111. However, his mind was quickly changed after being inspired by the performances of Meiningen clarinetist Richard Miihlfeld (1859-1907). Brahms enjoyed Miihlfeld's interpretation of the Weber's clarinet works, especially the Quintet, and was impressed by his ability to move easily between the different registers of the instrument. Because of the way Miihlfeld inspired him, Brahms was able to produce the Clarinet Quintet, the Clarinet Trio, and two Clarinet Sonatas, all of which have become a vital part of the instrument's repertoire. The Sonata in F Minor, Op. 120 No. 1, in particular, demonstrates Brahms compositional style, especially his tendency to expand and reinvent classical forms. This work also demonstrates how intimately Brahms knew Miihlfeld's playing, as well as the construction and tendencies of clarinets in general. The perfect combination of Brahms' compositional style with Miihlfeld's musicianship and mastery of his own instrument produced the F Minor Sonata.

Johannes Brahms was born in Hamburg, Germany on May 7, 1833. His father, Johann Jakob Brahms, worked as a freelance musician playing the flute, violin, cello, horn, and double bass. His mother, Christiana Nissen Brahms, was previously Johann Jakob Brahms' landlord and was seventeen years older than him. Because of the conditions of Hamburg at the time of his birth, there exists a common misconception that the Brahms family was in poverty. However, the Brahms family was fairly secure financially and had the resources to pay for Johannes and his brother to attend a private school for boys. Johannes graduated when he was fourteen years old. and much of his early training in music took place while he was a student at that school. He even taught piano lessons to one of his professors.1

Comments

Honors Thesis

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