In ep. 40 we find Johannes Brahms struggling to recover and learn from the defeat of his D minor Piano Concerto at Leipzig's Gewandhaus in January 1859. Despite nearing mastery in his craft and the untiring support of his friends he was yet unable to find a consistently appreciative audience. Success and failure, ridicule and praise, applause and hissing followed Brahms wherever he and his music went. By the Spring of 1860 his frustration and anger had grown so much that he lashed out at one of the greatest musical personalities of the age, Franz Liszt, in the most unlikely way and with pitiful results.
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Works heard in this episode, by Brahms unless otherwise noted:
1. Three Secular Songs for Choir, "Abendständchen" (Evening Serenade) Op. 42 no. 1. "...to let the light of his music shine through the darkness around him" from the intro. is my paraphrase of the last line of this song.
2. Three Secular Songs for Choir, "Darthulas Grabesgesang" (Darthulas Grave Song) op. 42 no. 3
3. Three Secular Songs for Choir, "Vineta" (Vineta) op. 42 no. 2
( 1-3 performed by Ensemberlino Vocale, https://musopen.org/music/2084-3-secular-songs-for-choir-op-42/ )
4. String Sextet in B-flat Major op. 18 mvt. 3 Scherzo
5. String Sextet in B-flat Major op. 18 mvt. 4 Rondo: Poco allegretto e grazioso
6, cont. 7, 8. Sonata in B Minor for Solo Piano, S. 178 by Franz Liszt
wonderfully played by Jean Dubé, piano https://musopen.org/music/43159-piano-sonata-in-b-minor-s-178/