New for the 2023 – 2024 season! The Classical Context blog series provides the historical details you need to better understand your favorite works and composers. Written by a computer. Fact-checked by a human. Enjoyed by you.
The World in 1875: Brahms and his Piano Quartet in C Minor, Op. 60
Johannes Brahms composed his remarkable Piano Quartet in C Minor, Op. 60 (also known as the Werther Quartet), during a period marked by political upheaval, cultural dynamism, and technological innovation. As Brahms poured his emotions and creativity into this masterpiece, the global events and cultural shifts of the time undoubtedly left their mark on his composition. The enduring beauty and emotional depth of Op. 60 continue to captivate audiences today, providing a timeless reflection of the world in which it was created. Let’s delve into the global backdrop against which Brahms composed this enduring work of art.
European Unrest
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (digital. id. ggbain 27988)
Europe was in a state of political flux in the mid-19th century. The Franco-Prussian War had concluded in 1871, resulting in the unification of Germany and the establishment of the German Empire under Emperor Wilhelm I. These political changes had a profound impact on Brahms.
End of Reconstruction in the U.S.
This period also saw the end of Reconstruction in the United States. It was marked by the withdrawal of federal troops from the South, effectively ending the federal government’s commitment to enforcing civil rights and protecting the newly acquired rights of African Americans. The 1877 Compromise, which settled the disputed presidential election of 1876, further facilitated the end of Reconstruction by removing federal intervention in Southern affairs. Consequently, Reconstruction came to a close, and the promise of equality for African Americans was deferred for many decades until the Civil Rights Movement of the mid-20th century.
Golden Age of Literature
The late 19th century was considered by some to be a golden age of literature, with renowned authors like Louisa May Alcott, Henry James, and George Eliot (also known as Mary Ann Evans) producing some of their most famous works. This period of literary flourishing contributed to the cultural atmosphere in which Brahms was composing.
Impressionist Art
The world of art was undergoing a transformation with the emergence of Impressionism, a movement characterized by its focus on capturing the fleeting effects of light and color. Artists like Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Mary Cassatt were at the forefront of this artistic revolution.
Telephone Invention
Alexander Graham Bell received his patent for the telephone in 1876. This groundbreaking invention would revolutionize communication and lay the foundation for the modern telecommunications industry.
Edison’s Phonograph
Thomas Edison was actively working on his phonograph in the 1870s, which would eventually lead to the recording and preservation of music, including the works of Brahms himself.
Brahms’s Personal Life
During this period, Brahms was firmly established as a respected composer and conductor. Brahms’s deep admiration for Clara Schumann and his complex emotions surrounding her, as well as his continued dedication to preserving the legacy of Robert Schumann, influenced his creative process during the composition of Op. 60.
Is Brahms’s piano quartet an ode to his forbidden love, or a product of a dynamic time?
Hear for yourself at Art of the Piano Quartet on October 15 and 16 with the Espressivo! Quartet.