GRMUS H639 — Brahms: The Culmination of an Era

2 credits
Fall
L. Michael Griffel

A study of the life, career, and compositions of Johannes Brahms, who came into prominence as a preserver of the Classical-Romantic style in the midst of the newer compositional approaches of Berlioz, Liszt, and Wagner. Living until 1897, Brahms continued to write Lieder, piano music, orchestral works, chamber music, and choral compositions to the very end, cognizant of and responding to the newer style. Amalgamating the splendor of Baroque counterpoint, the drama of Classical development, and the lyricism and color of Romanticism in his own works, Brahms emerged as the culmination of the era of tonality and functional harmony. The course will also address issues of performance practice and reception history and consider Brahms as performer, musicologist, editor, collaborator, sponsor, and friend.