This Companion gives a comprehensive view of the German composer Johannes Brahms (1833 97).

List of illustrations; Acknowledgements; Notes on contributors; Chronology; Preface; Part I. Stages of Creative Development and Reception: 1. Brahms the Hamburg musician 1833-1862 Kurt Hofmann; 2. Years of transition: Brahms and Vienna 1862-1875 Michael Musgrave; 3. Brahms and his audience: the later Viennese years, 1875-1897 Leon Botstein; Part II. The Music: Genre, Structure and Reference: 4. Opposition and integration in the piano music John Rink; 5. Medium and meaning: new aspects of the chamber music David Brodbeck; 6. Formal perspectives on the symphonies Kofi Agawu; 7. 'Veiled symphonies'? The concertos Malcolm MacDonald; 8. The scope and significance of the choral music Daniel Beller-McKenna; 9. Words for music: the songs for solo voice and piano Michael Musgrave; Part III. Brahms Today: Some Personal Responses: 10. Conducting Brahms Roger Norrington with Michael Musgrave; 11. The editor's Brahms Robert Pascall; 12. A photograph of Brahms Hugh Wood; Notes; List of works; Bibliography; Index.