Early years (1833–1850)
Brahms's father, Johann Jakob Brahms (1806–72), was from the town of Heidein Holstein. The family name was also sometimes spelt 'Brahmst' or 'Brams', and derives from 'Bram', the

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Style and influences
Brahms maintained a classical sense of form and order in his works, in contrast to the opulence of the music of many of his contemporaries. Thus, many admirers (though not necessarily Brahms himself) saw him as the champion

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Brahms was baptised into the Lutheran church as an infant, and was confirmed at aged fifteen (at St. Michael's Church, Hamburg), but has been described as an agnostic and a humanist. The devout Catholic Antonín Dvořákwrote in a letter: "Such a man, such a fine

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• Brahms Institut, Lübeck Academy of Music
• Free scores by Brahms at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)

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