"Johannes Brahms was a consummate professional musician, a successful pianist, conductor, music director, editor and composer. Yet he also faithfully championed the world of private music-making, creating many works and arrangements for enjoyment in the home by amateurs. This collection explores Brahms's public and private musical identities from various angles: the original works he wrote with amateurs in mind
his approach to creating piano arrangements of not only his own, but also other composers' works
his relationships with his arrangers
the deeper symbolism and lasting legacy of private music-making in his day
and a hitherto unpublished memoir which evokes his Viennese social world. Using Brahms as their focus point, the contributors trace the overlapping worlds of public and private music-making in the nineteenth century, discussing the boundaries between the composer's professional identity and his lifelong engagement with amateur music-making"-- Provided by publisher.
Includes bibliographical references and index.