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\u2018Art<\/span>is musicae severioris in Germania nunc princeps\u2019 (\u2018The most famous living German composer of serious music\u2019). That is the citation which accompanied the honorary doctoral degree awarded to Johannes Brahms by the University of Breslau (now Wroc\u0142aw, Poland) at a ceremony in the city on 4 January 1881 \u2013 a form of words which, incidentally, seriously irritated Brahms\u2019s great contemporary rival, Richard Wagner.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Brahms was 47 at the time, and had two symphonies, two concertos and a large quantity of chamber music already behind him. He had never been to university himself, and that possibly explains his rather gauche response in 1879, on first hearing the doctorate had been awarded \u2013 a simple postcard was all he sent, asking his friend and Breslau resident Bernhard Scholz to thank the university authorities.<\/span><\/p>\n There followed a diplomatic intervention, restoring a modicum of decorum to the situation. \u2018Would you not like to write a \u201cdoctoral symphony\u201d for us here in Breslau?,\u2019 Scholz, the conductor of the city\u2019s orchestra, wrote. \u2018We\u2019re expecting at least a ceremonial song.\u2019 Teasingly addressing Brahms as \u2018Dear Doctor\u2019, Scholz promised him a slap-up graduation meal and a convivial evening of skittle-playing to nudge him in the right direction.<\/span><\/p>\n Brahms took the hint, but not by composing the symphony or song suggested. \u2018I have written an \u201cAcademic Festival Overture\u201d for January 4th so that you aren\u2019t too embarrassed by your guest,\u2019 he wrote to Scholtz. \u2018I don\u2019t really like the title \u2013 maybe you can think of a better one?\u2019 Scholz agreed the title was \u2018damned academic and boring\u2019, but Brahms found his alternative \u2013 the \u2018Viadrina Overture\u2019, after an old name for Breslau\u2019s River Oder \u2013 even worse.<\/span><\/p>\n