<\/p>
Classical music was something of a battleground in 19th-century Germany, with composers fierce about protecting their own particular aesthetic and approach<\/strong>. This schism in the classical world became known as the War of the Romantics…<\/strong><\/p> During the period now known as the War of the Romantics, Johannes Brahms<\/a><\/strong> was seen to be at the head of the ‘Absolute Music’ camp. This revered musical forms and tonal structures, building on a tradition from Haydn<\/a> <\/strong>to Schumann<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p> There’s no doubt that Brahms was a an ingenious composer. He composed for symphony orchestra<\/a><\/strong>, chamber<\/a><\/strong> ensembles, piano<\/a><\/strong>, organ, violin<\/a><\/strong>, voice, and chorus. A virtuoso pianist<\/a><\/strong>, he premiered many of his own works. And he worked with leading performers of his time, including Clara Schumann<\/a><\/strong> and violinist<\/a><\/strong> Joseph Joachim, both of whom were close friends. <\/p> He can also be seen as both a traditionalist and an innovator. On the one hand, his music definitely adheres to the basic structures and techniques of the Classical tradition. Sonata form<\/a><\/strong>, for example, is much in evidence.\u00a0On the other hand, the intensity of expression of his works aligns him more closely with the Romantic movement.<\/p>War of the Romantics… Brahms, the traditionalist<\/h2>