Shamim desai biography books

This book is a labor of love, and of the most wonderful narratives I have ever read.
It is impossible to leave it without having learnt something, such is the contribution to the cause of classical music that is achieved by taking as a staring point one of the most celebrated musical and personal relationships know to the general public: that of Robert and Clara Schumann with Brahms.
This focal point will support the entire narrative, from the early days of Clara as a concert pianist, to the final days and death of Brahms.
Although the entire book - really two books comprised in one (The Schumanns, And Brahms, respectively) makes up for an engrossing read, the book on Brahms shines new light on this often neglected composer, considering the social circle in which he moved. This is the other shinning pearl of this work. The way it encapsulates the lives and times of Brahms’ contemporaries, such as Schumann, Liszt, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Bruckner or Dvorak, elevates the sense of importance that history has to the many arts. To think that the world was at the same time stage to the greatest names in classical music, and that all of the composers knew and interacted with each other in some form or capacity, allied with wonderful dialogue and personalities that the author attribute to each individually, makes the read well worth the time spent with theses personalities. Did they like each other? If yes, to what extent? We must never forget that each disputed the same battlefield, to various results.
We are given the chance to look up the various works and pieces by each composer, judging by ourselves if they have resisted the test of time. Can Brahms’ Fourth Symphony cause the same stir of emotions that lead to it being apotheotically received and acclaimed, movement after movement, in the presence of the composer?
This goes for the mainstream works, but also leaves room for discovery of the massive body of work that is chamber music, more personal and intimate by definition.

Another aspect of this work is the attention given to the personality of Brahms, and the way it serves the philosophical discussion of man versus artist, as well as the purpose and role of music in society. Can it be that the 19th century gave birth or allowed some of the most historically relevant personalities, much more when we consider music? The way they shaped - and continue to shape - our appreciation for this art transcends space and time; in other words, we are witnessing history. Amazing is the familiarity we cannot help but feel when reading the conversations held between these musicians, so natural and plausible it sounds. It is a great feauture, and it carris the story beginning to end.

There is a wonderful quote in the last stages of the book:

“Was it merely a price paid for special gifts? A deal made? An exchange”

Using Brahms as the gateway, the author alludes to the ever present pact that the arts seems to imply for those who are to make a name for themselves.
Later, alluding to Bach, Mozart and Wagner, the author finishes this idea:

“ - but perhaps they had paid a different price (…)”

This is a time where any emerging composer wanted to be name Beethoven’s heir. His influence and expectation for the next great creation was ever lurking.
If we consider Brahms, I would say that whatever the price he paid, he got the better end of the bargain.

The last pages of the book are more introspective, giving us wonderful writing and beauty.
The scene where Brahms attends a performance of his Fourth Symphony, amidst calmer and reminiscence, has to be my favourite. It really brings this massive work to a perfect close, bringing to memory the many liaisons we have witnessed throughout.
Clara remains the most significant, either if we take Brahms’s perspective on the whole, or the time and care she is given by the story. Clara ends up being the best developed character, capable of bringing tears to our eyes when we are faced with the inevitable news of her passing. We could almost consider her a tragic character, having carried with her, at some times, an unsurmountable pain derived from her family’s history.

This is an important book, one to be savoured and appreciated by all, best yet for those who have an interest in music and its history.