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Date: | Mon, 4 Mar 2002 16:11:41 EST |
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You ask for a "good biography of Brahms." I would recommend three, in more
or less the following order:
1) "Johannes Brahms: Life and Letters," edited and annotated by Styra
Avins (Oxford). I know what you're thinking: this isn't a biography!
Well, it is and it isn't. It contains extensive biographical material and
a lot of great source material -- the man's own words. Avins challenges a
number of the conclusions drawn by Jan Swafford. Speaking of whom . . .
2) "Johannes Brahms: A Biography," by Jan Swafford (Knopf). Very
readable, lively, and more or less straightforward. He speculates a bit
about Brahms' early life, but I don't think he veers too far into Maynard
Solomon, psychologist territory.
3) "Brahms: His Life and Work," by Karl Geiringer (Da Capo).
Straightforward, solid, and time-tested.
Hope that helps.
Regards,
Bob Chen
Los Angeles, CA
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