* 7 May 1833, Hamburg – † 3 April 1897, Vienna
Johannes Brahms’ life and work trace an exciting journey through the 19th century, stretching from Hamburg’s ‘Gängeviertel’ to the musical metropolis of Vienna. The composer was a sensitive and self-critical man; perhaps this is why he sometimes reacted somewhat brusquely, yet his contemporaries were not put off: his music and his person were equally revered.
Johannes Brahms was born in May 1833 in Hamburg’s ‘Gängeviertel’ district and was baptised and confirmed at St Michael’s Church. At the age of ten, Brahms made his first public appearance as a pianist in Hamburg, and by the age of thirteen the young musician had already begun to earn a living as a pianist.
From 1853 onwards, concert tours led to formative contacts and friendships with important musicians and composers of his time. In particular, his encounters with Joseph Joachim and Clara and Robert Schumann were decisive for Brahms’ artistic development. But it was the works composed during his time in Vienna from 1862 onwards (Requiem, Hungarian Dances, symphonies) that established Brahms’ undisputed fame in the musical world. In 1889, the now world-famous composer was made an honorary citizen of Hamburg.
For Johannes Brahms, it was a long journey from his humble beginnings in Hamburg to being awarded honorary citizenship of the city. Brahms’s impressive circle of artistic friends and his diverse body of work continue to fascinate people to this day. In the Brahms exhibition, musical manuscripts, documents, concert programmes, Brahms memorabilia and photographs offer an insight into the composer, who was as reserved as he was celebrated. An extensive reference library frames the historic, superbly restored table piano on which Brahms gave lessons in 1861/62 to the 12-year-old daughter of a Hamburg merchant family.
The Brahms Museum in the KQ is housed in a listed office building dating from 1751.
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The Johannes Brahms Society preserves the memory of the composer and promotes Brahms research both nationally and internationally.
The Brahms Museum on Peterstraße has been in existence since the early 1970s. Extensively restored in 2022 and expanded to include a gallery space for temporary exhibitions, it has been an established part of the KQ since 2015.
"“Vivat, cresceat, floreat – may it grow!” This wish, expressed in 1971 at the opening of the Brahms Memorial, is more fitting than ever for the KQ’s 10th anniversary in 2025.
It was a great honour for the Johannes Brahms Society of Hamburg at the time to be able to establish a fitting memorial to the honorary citizen Dr Johannes Brahms, with the help of the patron Alfred Toepfer and political support.
Even though Brahms turned his back on Hamburg and made Vienna his home, his roots were here and his longing for Hamburg remained constant – here, where he had received the decisive inspiration and had already composed masterpieces.
For over 50 years, the Brahms Museum has welcomed guests from all over the world; now, with one female composer and five male composers, we have gained wonderful musical neighbours – we belong together, and together it sounds even more beautiful!"
Gudrun Jalass on behalf of the Johannes Brahms Society Hamburg for the KQ anniversary in 2025