Bar 16 - Drinking buddies

On January 1, 1888, when Brahms was 54 years old and Tchaikovsky was 47, they met for the first time over New Year's dinner at the home of the violinist Adolph Brodsky in Leipzig.  A great friendship was not born that evening, though they did get sloshed.  And not for the last time that week.   Pyotr Ilyich describes Brahms as a dreadful drunk, which didn't keep the tall Russian from knocking back more than a few himself.  His opinion of Brahms the man was, after further acquaintance, tempered; he found Johannes to be a "nice person."  Of course, multiple pours of the grape would do that to him.  To both of them, for that matter.

In rehearsal yesterday, we finished reading the excellent "Things Left Unsaid," by Eric Knechtges, which is based on the last movement of Tchaikovsky's "Pathètique."  Fa, mi-re-do, si-do.  We segued into the 2nd movement of Brahms 2, which starts...well you know.  Obviously a coincidence, but it does say something about these two titans, and it certainly begs for more insight into their relationship.

Of Brahms the composer, Tchaikovsky was harsh and harsher, calling him a "scoundrel," his music "hideous," ranting about it to his British friend, Ethel Smyth, to his brother, to his publisher and to his colleagues.  Brahms himself was more discreet in his feelings, but never warmed to the Russian's compositions, apart from one movement of the Suite No. 1.  Hostilities were maintained, especially by Tchaikovsky, even as he studied the Brahms Violin Concerto and grew to appreciate its craft, if not its content.

They saw each other one last time, on March 12, 1889 in Hamburg.  Tchaikovsky arrived to conduct his own 5th Symphony; upon hearing this news, Brahms stayed around an extra day to hear a rehearsal.  He himself was there to conduct his 4th Symphony and the Academic Festival Overture.  They had another debauch at lunch, during the course of which they acknowledged that they still didn't appreciate each other's music.  Nonetheless, Tchaikovsky invited Brahms to conduct in Russia (he refused) and supposedly they parted as "good friends." I am trying to picture them now at table, drinking.   Several bottles of wine.  At lunch.  What did they eat?  Some overcooked boar?  At what point did Brahms undo his belt, or suspenders or whatever he had to loosen to make room for his Spätzel?  Can't you just see Johannes, famous for both his appetite and his girth, midway through Bottle No. 2, carelessly letting food fall onto his beard?  What did they talk about, other than their distaste for each other's music?  Girls?  I doubt it.  Probably bitched about orchestra musicians: "...here, have some more, Pyotr...now about that concertmaster, did he play one note in tune?...What was that reed made of, a pine cone...oops, excuse me, what did I do with that herring...what's it doing down there?"  And then off to rehearsal, after a nap, one hopes.

Their opinion of each other's music never did improve.  Brahms was humbly honest at that lunch in his assessment of Tchaikovsky's music; it wasn't to his taste.  While Tchaikovsky admired Brahms's mastery of compositional technique, he found the music cold, uninspiring, devoid of real emotional interest, unappealing to the Russian character.  His negative view of Brahms was perhaps reinforced by his resentment at Brahms having been anointed Beethoven's successor in the German press.   Ultimately, they simply didn't see eye to eye on aesthetic, artistic matters.  There is it, two of the greatest composers who ever limned a tune, unable to agree on more than what to order for dessert.  And maybe a schnapps.

It is altogether appropriate to pair these two in performance.  Think of that week back in 1889, in Hamburg.  Tchaikovsky 5th, Brahms 4th.  Wow.  What wouldn't you have given to have been there!
At the lunch, if not at the concerts.

Back to work!