Text/Pan Caixia
In May 1896, the 63-year-old German composer Johannes Brahms received a telegram that read, "Our mother has fallen asleep peacefully today." ”
The letter was sent by the children of pianist Clara Schumann, and Brahms's heart suddenly collapsed. He hurried from Switzerland to Frankfurt, desperate and miserable along the way. In a trance, I actually stepped on the train in the opposite direction.
Two days and two nights later, when he finally arrived in Frankfurt, the funeral was over. Standing in front of the tomb, Brahms was extremely sad, and he slowly put the violin on his shoulder. In his pocket, there are 4 freshly composed pieces, which he is going to give to Clara for her 77th birthday.
The sound of the piano is like resentment, like crying, 43 years of affection, clearly spread at the fingertips, which is a confession that has never had the opportunity to be laid out in the sun.
Brahms and Clara
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On September 30, 1853, the musician Schumann's home welcomed a young blonde, his name was Brahms, a young composer, a violinist who was deeply impressed by his performance and recommended him to visit Schumann.
Schumann came out of the study, dressed in civilian clothes and slippers, with a soft face and a kind gaze, and Brahms suddenly relaxed from the tension. At Schumann's suggestion, he sat down at the piano and played his own Sonata in C major.
Schumann's eyes lit up, and after a few bars he said excitedly, "Please stop, I hope Clara can hear too..."
Clara, his wife, showed extraordinary musical talent as a teenager, and at that time, she was already a very famous pianist, known in Europe for her elegant playing style.
In the middle of the skirt, a young woman arrived. Brahms couldn't help but look over, and in just a split second, he was enveloped by an invisible aura. She is so beautiful, noble, otherworldly, smiling big eyes with kindness, like a spring breeze.
A laugh that beats a lifetime. At that moment, Brahms completely forgot himself. Although, Clara was 34 years old, the mother of several children; he was only 20 years old.
The Schumanns
Listening to Brahms played, like listening to a "veiled symphony," the Schumanns were intoxicated. That night, Clara wrote in her diary: "Today from Hamburg came a great man, Brahms, who was only 20 years old and had been sent directly by God. ”
Schumann, on the other hand, also left a sentence in his diary that day: "Brahms came to see me, he was a genius." ”
Schumann admired his brilliance, and after a decade of writing, he wrote a review for New Music Magazine with great enthusiasm, calling Brahms "an outstanding figure" and even boldly predicting that he would be the "master of the future".
Since then, Brahms has studied under Schumann and lived in Schumann's home. Under the guidance of the couple, he progressed rapidly.
During the performance, Clara began to play Brahms's works, and Brahms rose to fame and entered the German music stage.
In the co-creation, Clara's talent and demeanor became more and more captivating to him. But Clara was his own master, and he tried to bury a feeling in his heart, like hot magma, hidden in the deep ocean.
The admiration and love for Clara also changed Brahms, who changed from his youth to a polite and quiet manner.
Brahms
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In 1854, misfortune came. Affected by a hereditary mental illness, Schumann lost his mind and jumped madly into the Rhine. Confused, he left Clara a note: "Dear Clara, I am going to throw my wedding ring into the Rhine, and you will throw yours in, so that the two rings will be reunited." ”
Fortunately, Schumann attempted suicide, and he was rescued and sent to a mental hospital. At this time, Clara was pregnant with their seventh child.
When he heard the news, Brahms was out performing, and he immediately rushed to Clara's side, comforted her, and took care of her. He gave up valuable opportunities to fame to help Clara take care of the children and support her to go out and perform.
In the lunatic asylum, Brahms met Schumann, whose condition was mixed. Whenever Schumann was in a mood, Brahms put a picture of Clara in his hand. Later, he reported to Clara in a letter:
He kissed it and then held it in both hands and put it down, which was the most moving scene. The warmth he showed when he spoke of you, and the joy he was when he saw your portrait, I could not describe it, but let you imitate it with the most beautiful imagination, and I was so happy that I was almost drunk. ”
There is no jealousy, only the sincerity and purity of love she loves.
Clara
Brahms gave Clara great comfort, and his admiration for her generosity and kindness, tolerance for grief, and self-control. In the day and night together, his feelings for her became more intense.
Brahms, however, could only struggle between feelings and morality. In a letter to a friend, he poured out his pain: "I often have to try to control my longing hands, which is so natural for me that she can't misunderstand it." I thought, I can't love an unmarried girl anymore, at least, I've completely forgotten about them. ”
In July 1856, Schumann committed suicide again, leaving behind a grief-stricken Clara and seven young children. At this moment, rumors spread that Clara's seventh child was Brahms's.
In order not to bother Clara, the day after the funeral, the 23-year-old Brahms chose to leave. That night, Clara was upset, writing in her diary: "This is simply another funeral. ”
Schumann
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After that, they were contacted by letters, which only mentioned Schumann and music, but no emotion.
Brahms was obsessed with composing, and every time he finished a piece, he would send it to Clara. While composing the second movement of piano concerto no. 1, he wrote to her: "I am painting a lovely portrait of you. ”
She is the muse in his heart, passionate love, endless thoughts, all poured into the staves of his pen.
In 1859, on Clara's 40th birthday, she received a serenade from Brahms. As an outstanding pianist, she certainly knew his heart better when she heard this piece. But in her reply, she said only music: "It's as beautiful as I'm looking at the roots of a beautiful flower..."
Of course she also loved him, loved his good nature, his noble heart, but, Schumann, was her eternal emotional belonging.
During this time, Brahms also tried to accept another relationship, and even exchanged rings with a female singer, but in the end, he gave up. He said to the singers, "I long to hug you, but marriage is impossible." ”
Amid the contradictions and pains, Brahms used 20 years of emotion to create the Piano Quartet in C minor, which covers the tragic impression of Schumann, and the longing for Clara, and the depression of hopeless love.
Clara understands Brahms's feelings, but she cherishes his talent even more, and she watches over him, growing a green shade of friendship on the foundation of love.
When composing Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Brahms was often disturbed by the "footsteps of giants" (referring to Beethoven), and Clara inspired him in his letter: "A stormy sky can give birth to a symphony." ”
Later, she received a movement from Brahms, and when she saw that Brahms balanced the deep sorrow in her heart with restraint, tranquility, and detachment, she could not help but wet her clothes with tears.
As soon as the First Symphony in C minor was performed, it caused a sensation throughout Europe, and the emotions expressed in the song gave the world the greatest spiritual comfort, and was once praised as Beethoven's "Tenth Symphony". Brahms thus became a classical musician on a par with Bach and Beethoven.
His success is inextricably linked to Clara, and for the rest of Herá's life, he is also an important spiritual pillar for her.
Clara had a difficult life, alone with 7 children, and the children suffered misfortunes one after another, and it was Brahms who comforted her with his works. He also quietly funded her, touring the country with Schumann's work, and his life and creations all revolved around her.
In the 40 years of correspondence, in addition to sending every piece of music he composed to Clara, the love letters that fell to "Johannes who belong to you completely" were not sent.
In those love letters, write this sentence:
"I want to admire you, by your side, but I hesitate to try not to touch you."
"I wish I could write to you with the same tenderness and sweetness as a lover, for you are incomparably precious to me. If time doesn't pass, I want to embed you in glass or cast you into gold. ”
Years later, clara explained to the children about his relationship with Brahms: "During those painful years, he shared my misfortune as a faithful friend. He strengthened my hurting heart, lifted me up, and did everything he could to soothe my heart. In fact, he was a true friend and the only pillar of mine. ”
In October 1895, 41 years after a separate meeting, they met in Frankfurt. Clara is 76 years old, at this time, she has been eroded by the years, Brahms is still warmly embracing, the look in his eyes is as bright as when he first saw her.
The passion of creation burst forth again, but just as he was preparing a birthday present for her, the news of her death came.
Brahms never married, and after Clara left, the world had nothing to linger on, he burned the manuscripts and letters, and after only 11 months, he followed her, leaving only the moving words, witnessing his never-confessed love: "My best melodies come from Clara." ”
Later clara