Romantic · 1820–1900

Johannes Brahms

“The Keeper of the Flame”

⭐ Born 1833, Hamburg, Germany🕯️ Died 1897, Vienna, Austria⏳ Lived 64 years

A gruff perfectionist with a giant beard who carried Beethoven's torch — and wrote the world's most famous lullaby.

The Romantic era (1820–1900): Big emotions, bigger orchestras — music about love, nature, nations and stormy hearts.

As a teenager he played piano in the rough dockside taverns of Hamburg to help support his family.
He was so haunted by Beethoven's shadow that he took 21 years to finish his First Symphony. Critics instantly called it 'Beethoven's Tenth'.
His famous Lullaby ('Wiegenlied') was a gift for a friend's newborn baby — it may now be the most-sung melody on Earth.
He was a perfectionist who burned dozens of works he judged not good enough — we'll never know what was lost.
Gruff on the outside, generous underneath: he quietly sent money to friends and loved children, keeping sweets in his pockets for them.
He adored strong coffee, hedgehogs (his tavern nickname), and long countryside walks where he composed in his head.

Lullaby (Wiegenlied) 1868 Song

Written for a friend's new baby. Parents have sung it every night since — quite possibly the most-performed melody in the world.

Symphony No. 1 1876 Symphony

Twenty-one years in the making, because 'you have no idea how it feels to hear behind you the tramp of a giant like Beethoven'.

Hungarian Dances 1869 Orchestral / piano duets

Fiery, foot-stomping dances based on Hungarian tunes — his best-selling works by far.

1833Born in Hamburg to a poor double-bass player; plays in dockside taverns as a boy.

1853Aged 20, knocks on Robert and Clara Schumann's door; Robert hails him in print as music's chosen one.

1859Darwin publishes On the Origin of Species.

1862Moves to Vienna — the city of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert.

1866The transatlantic telegraph cable permanently links Europe and America.

1868A German Requiem premieres, making him famous across Europe; writes the Lullaby the same year.

1871Germany is unified under Kaiser Wilhelm I — Brahms, a proud German, celebrates with a 'Triumphlied'.

1876Finally completes his First Symphony after 21 years of work.

1879Edison demonstrates his electric light bulb.

1885Completes his Fourth (and final) Symphony.

1889The Eiffel Tower opens in Paris. Brahms makes a wax-cylinder recording — his actual piano playing survives!

1897Dies in Vienna, a month after his last public appearance — at a performance of his own Fourth Symphony.