Composers, Connections and Creative Genius: Brahms, Grieg, Tchaikovsky and Medtner

Explore the cultural influences and connections between composers as you focus on the music of the later Romanic period. Johannes Brahms was introduced to Robert and Clara Schumann by violinist Joseph Joachim. Schumann became his mentor and friend. He also developed a lasting friendship with Clara Schumann. Brahms was heavily influenced by the work of Bach and Beethoven. Edward Grieg was introduced to Franz Liszt as a young, budding piano virtuoso and Liszt promoted his music widely. Grieg, a Norwegian composer, was inspired by Northern European landscapes and seashore as well as Scandinavian folklore and mythology. The orchestral music of Peter Illich Tchaikovsky is well known, but, with exception of his First Piano Concerto, his piano compositions are not frequently performed although they have enormous variety and appeal. Nikolai Medtner, close friend of Sergei Rachmaninoff, is less known as a composer, but is considered a great representative of the Russian late Romantic piano tradition. He composed numerous works for piano including “Fairy Tales,” which became his most popular pieces. Hear about the lives and musical development of these composers and listen to their work performed by the instructor.

Course Instructor

Alex Tentser Author