The Life & Legacy of Johannes Brahms in two volumes is a well researched biography of famous composer, written by his student Florence May. The biographical materials have been gathered chiefly in the course of several Continental journeys the author undertook with Brahms. The goal of the work was to present the biographical account of composer's life, and to help the regular music-lover to get acquainted with Brahms' life, not getting into technical analysis of his compositions.

In an expansive study Johannes Brahms emerges from Jan Swafford's book is not a bearded eminence but rather an assemblage of contradictions. He grew up in grinding poverty and as a teenager was forced to play the piano in brothels. Recognized by his teachers as a stupendous talent, Robert Schumann proclaimed Brahms at only twenty-years-old to be the saviour of German music. Brahms spent the rest of his life living up to the that prophecy. He experienced triumphs few artists have enjoyed in their lifetime, yet lived with a relentless loneliness and a growing fatalism about the future of music and the world.

Brahms in Context offers a fresh perspective on the much-admired nineteenth-century German composer. Including thirty-nine chapters on historical, social and cultural contexts, the book brings together internationally renowned experts in music, law, science, art history and other areas, including many figures whose work is appearing in English for the first time. The essays are accessibly written, with short reading lists aimed at music students and educators. The book opens with personal topics including Brahms's Hamburg childhood, his move to Vienna, and his rich social life. It considers professional matters from finance to publishing and copyright; the musicians who shaped and transmitted his works; and the larger musical styles which influenced him. Casting the net wider, other essays embrace politics, religion, literature, philosophy, art, and science. The book closes with chapters on reception, including recordings, historical performance, his compositional legacy, and a reflection on the power of composer myths.

Florence May's 'The Life of Johannes Brahms (Vol. 1&2)' is a meticulously researched and elegantly written biography that delves into the life and work of the renowned composer. Through detailed narratives and insightful analysis, May provides a comprehensive look at Brahms' artistic development, relationships, and impact on the music world. The literary style of the book is both engaging and informative, making it a valuable resource for music enthusiasts and scholars alike. Set against the backdrop of the Romantic era, May's portrayal of Brahms captures the essence of his genius and enduring legacy. The book is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of one of classical music's great masters.

Johann Sebastian Bach was a musical genius, an intellectual giant and a gracious man. His achievement in the area of music is one of the greatest tours de force in history - on a par with or surpassing that of Shakespeare, Michelangelo, Dante, Rembrandt, or Aquinas. Bach worked at a crucial time in history. He combated the ideas of the Enlightenment with its elevation of human reason as the ultimate authority of everything. His struggles, musically and professionally, are those of a man seeking to maintain a high view of worship, academics, and the grounding of all life on the Word of God. As a man valiant in his convictions, he stood against the trends and fashions of his day and succeeded as a witness of the Gospel to the generations who followed him. While his name conjures many images, musical phrases, and half-remembered stories, the life of this colossal genius provides practical lessons in leadership for both artists and anyone who strives to serve others with excellence and integrity.

Johannes Brahms was born in Hamburg, Germany, to a family that lived in extreme poverty. Yet by the time of his death he had become one of the most financially successful classical music composers who ever lived. It wasn t easy. His family had to move several times while Hannes (as he was nicknamed) was still a boy. He had to go to work when he was just 13, playing the piano in rough waterfront taverns in Hamburg. Often he wouldn t come home until dawn. Brahms received his first big break when he was 20. The composer Robert Schumann called him a genius and a young eagle. Even then, it still took him many years to become famous. While he is most noted for his symphonies and concertos, it is likely that more people know him for his Cradle Song, better known as Brahms s Lullaby, which millions of mothers have sung to their young children to lull them to sleep.