Brahms with Midori and Elim

How do you deal with the musical legacy of composers who preceded you? Even talented composers like Johannes Brahms grappled with this problem. Brahms spent fifteen years working on his Symphony No. 1, in hopes of rivalling Beethoven’s masterpiece. The tense opening, the subtle anticipatory silences, and languorous melodies helped seal the reputation of his First as a highlight of the romantic repertoire. Dvořák also sought the recognition and ap...