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Reviewer: 'One of your themes was very similar to one of Beethoven's!' Brahms replied, 'Of course it is. Everyone steals - the important thing is to do it brilliantly.

Johannes Brahms

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Johannes Brahms
Age: 62 †
Born: 1834
Born: May 7
Died: 1897
Died: April 3
Composer
Conductor
Pianist
Hamburg
Freie und Hansestadt
Brahms
G. W. Marks
Important
Themes
Thing
Replied
Reviewer
Similar
Brahms
Theme
Brilliantly
Stealing
Reviewers
Courses
Steals
Course
Beethoven
Everyone
Copying

More quotes by Johannes Brahms

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What would become of all historical biography if it was written only with consideration for other peoples' feelings?
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It is not hard to compose but it is wonderfully hard to let the superfluous notes fall under the table. . . So many melodies fly about, one must be careful not to tread on them.
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A symphony is no joke.
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If we cannot write with the beauty of Mozart, let us at least try to write with his purity.
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One should never forget that by actually perfecting one piece one gains and learns more than by starting or half-finishing a dozen.
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Those are miracles that no merely human brain can work. The artist is merely the sound conduct of a Force that dictates to him what he should do.
Johannes Brahms
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Composers in the old days used to keep strictly to the base of the theme, as their real subject. Beethoven varies the melody, harmony and rhythms so beautifully.
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Straight-away the ideas flow in upon me, directly from God, and not only do I see distinct themes in my mind's eye, but they are clothed in the right forms, harmonies, and orchestration.
Johannes Brahms
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For the shallow delights of matrimony and opera I have no courage.
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In him converge all previous streams of tendency, not as into a pool, stagnant, passive, motionless, but as a noble river that received its tributary waters and bearss them onward in larger and statelier volume.
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Ah, that tastes nice. Thank you.
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If there is anyone here whom I have not insulted, I beg his pardon.
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How lucky is the man who, like Mozart and others, goes to the tavern of an evening and writes some fresh music. For he lives while he is creating.
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The fact that most people do not understand and respect the very best things, such as Mozart's concertos, is what permits men like us to become famous.
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It is a real pleasure to see music so bright and spontaneous expressed with corresponding ease and grace.
Johannes Brahms
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It is not hard to compose, but what is fabulously hard is to leave the superfluous notes under the table.
Johannes Brahms