The Clarinet Works of Johannes Brahms

Abstract

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) wrote four works especially for the clarinet and became the first master musician since Carl Maria von Weber to really concentrate his energies on the instrument. Like Weber and Mozart before him, Brahms was inspired to compose his music by a great clarinetist. Brahms met this outstanding musician, Richard Muh1fe1d of Meiningen, at what was to be near·the end of his composing career. Thus it is not surprising to find that the works are all masterfully worked out although some of the spontaneous invention of youth is missing.