Johannes Brahms Quotes & Sayings
Enjoy the top 29 famous quotes, sayings and quotations by Johannes Brahms.
Famous Quotes By Johannes Brahms
If we cannot write with the beauty of Mozart, let us at least try to write with his purity. — Johannes Brahms
In him converge all previous streams of tendency, not as into a pool, stagnant, passive, motionless, but as a noble river that received its tributary waters and bearss them onward in larger and statelier volume. — Johannes Brahms
Reviewer: 'One of your themes was very similar to one of Beethoven's!' Brahms replied, 'Of course it is. Everyone steals - the important thing is to do it brilliantly. — Johannes Brahms
Never criticize the composition of a Royal Highness. You never know who may have written it. — Johannes Brahms
Straight-away the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God, and not only do I see distinct themes in my mind's eye, but they are clothed in the right forms, harmonies, and orchestration. — Johannes Brahms
How lucky is the man who, like Mozart and others, goes to the tavern of an evening and writes some fresh music. For he lives while he is creating. — Johannes Brahms
The only true immortality lies in one's children.
[Letter to his friend, Richard Heuberger] — Johannes Brahms
The fact that most people do not understand and respect the very best things, such as Mozart's concertos, is what permits men like us to become famous. — Johannes Brahms
Ah, that tastes nice. Thank you. — Johannes Brahms
It is not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table. — Johannes Brahms
It is a real pleasure to see music so bright and spontaneous expressed with corresponding ease and grace. — Johannes Brahms
One should never forget that by actually perfecting one piece one gains and learns more than by starting or half-finishing a dozen. — Johannes Brahms
In my study I can lay my hand on the Bible in the pitch dark. All truly inspired ideas come from God. The powers from which all truly great composers like Mozart, Schubert, Bach and Beethoven drew their inspirations is the same power that enabled Jesus to do his miracles. — Johannes Brahms
For the shallow delights of matrimony and opera I have no courage. — Johannes Brahms
Leave off driving your composers. It might prove to be as dangerous as it is generally unnecessary. After all, composing cannot be turned out like spinning or sewing. Some respected colleagues (Bach, Mozart, Schubert) have spoilt the world terribly. But if we can't imitate them in the beauty of their writing, we should certainly beware of seeking to match the speed of their writing. It would also be unjust to put all the blame on idleness alone. Many factors combine to make writing harder for us (my contemporaries), and especially me. If, incidentally, they would use us poets for some other purpose, they would see that we are thoroughly and naturally industrious dispositions ... I have no time: otherwise I should love to chat on the difficulty of composing and how irresponsible publishers are. — Johannes Brahms
My things really are written with an appalling lack of practicality! — Johannes Brahms
We cling nervously to the melody, but we don't handle it freely, we don't really make anything new out of it, we merely overload it. — Johannes Brahms
Those who enjoy their own emotionally bad health and who habitually fill their own minds with the rank poisons of suspicion, jealousy and hatred, as a rule take umbrage at those who refuse to do likewise, and they find a perverted relief in trying to denigrate them. — Johannes Brahms
Those are miracles that no merely human brain can work. The artist is merely the sound conduct of a Force that dictates to him what he should do. — Johannes Brahms
The idea comes to me from outside of me - and is like a gift. I then take the idea and make it my own - that is where the skill lies. — Johannes Brahms
It is not hard to compose but it is wonderfully hard to let the superfluous notes fall under the table ... So many melodies fly about, one must be careful not to tread on them. — Johannes Brahms
Composers in the old days used to keep strictly to the base of the theme, as their real subject. Beethoven varies the melody, harmony and rhythms so beautifully. — Johannes Brahms
A symphony is no joke. — Johannes Brahms
I sometimes ponder on variation form and it seems to me it ought to be more restrained, purer. — Johannes Brahms
To follow in Beethoven's footsteps transcends one's strength. — Johannes Brahms
What would become of all historical biography if it was written only with consideration for other peoples' feelings? — Johannes Brahms