Brahms and Tchaikovsky: Titans in Tension

Though they are now both categorized as Romantic-era composers, these men created music that couldn’t have been more different.
Brahms and Tchaikovsky: Titans in Tension
Johannes Brahms (L) from 1853 and Pyotr Tchaikovsky from around the same period. PD-US
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Johannes Brahms and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky were both born on May 7, seven years apart. Brahms, the older of the two, was born in 1833; Tchaikovsky in 1840.

Given this double birthday, it seems appropriate to write about their relationship. The two men exhibited a mutual respect and even met twice. They had contrasting musical styles, though, and didn’t care for one another’s work.

Andrew Benson Brown
Andrew Benson Brown
Author
Andrew Benson Brown is a Missouri-based poet, journalist, and writing coach. He is an editor at Bard Owl Publishing and Communications and the author of “Legends of Liberty,” an epic poem about the American Revolution. For more information, visit Apollogist.wordpress.com.