Brahms

Brahms debuts in New York City

At 2 p.m. on today's date in 1855, a small band of musicians gave the first in a series of chamber music concerts at Dodworth's Hall in New York City. As a contemporary newspaper notice put it, "In consequence of the numerous evening engagements of the city, and to enable ladies to be present without escort, it is proposed to give matinees in preference to soirees."

The first concert was a great success. In fact, many of the fashionably dressed ladies who attended were forced to stand, as all available seats were already occupied.

In addition to classics by Schubert and Mendelssohn, the New York audience heard some brand-new music, the American premiere of a recently published piano trio by a 21-year old German composer, named Johannes Brahms.

The New York Times opined that the new music of young Herr Brahms contained "many good points and much sound musicianship" but possessed also "the defects of a young writer, among which may be enumerated length and solidarity. The motives seldom fall on the ear freshly."

While it's doubtful Brahms ever saw the review, or even had any inkling that his new trio had been played in America, he eventually agreed with the Times' assessment. In 1889, 35 years after the first version of his Piano Trio No. 1 was published, Brahms extensively revised and shortened his youthful work, transforming his first, major chamber work into his very last.