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![]() BRAHMS, Johannes (1833-1897). German composer and pianist. Autograph Letter Signed ('J.Br.') to the music publisher Fritz Simrock, 4 pages 8vo, dated in another hand Vienna, 19 April 1884. A fine letter ranging through a variety of subjects, and in particular praising the music of Verhulst. With a full transcript and translation. Brahms begins by sending his apologies to Herr Düffel, apparently because of a lost book (he offers to buy another copy). He expresses the hope that Simrock will not lose the services of Keller, and mentions two-handed piano arrangements. He continues by praising the music of Verhulst: '... I keep meaning to speak to you about some very beautiful children's songs by Verhulst. You should send for:Brahms continues with mentions of Wüllner, Gerasheim and Joachim. Johannes Verhulst (b The Hague, 19 March 1816; d Bloemendaal, 17 Jan 1891). Dutch composer and conductor. He was one of the first pupils at the Koninklijke Muzijkschool in his native city, where he studied the violin and theory with J.H. Lübeck and C.J. Lechleitner. From 1832 he was a church organist and also played in the orchestras of the royal chapel and the Théâtre Français, whose conductor, C.-L.-J. Hanssens, taught him orchestration. After receiving Mendelssohn's praise in 1836 for his Overture op.2 he decided to continue his studies in Leipzig. He went first to Cologne, studying briefly with Josef Klein, and in early 1838 arrived in Leipzig, where he became a close friend of Schumann and conducted the Euterpe orchestra (1838-42) in programmes even more progressive than those of the Gewandhaus orchestra. After returning to the Netherlands in 1842 he became music director at the court of Willem II, and conductor of the Rotterdam Toonkunst choir (1843-4, 1848-63). He achieved international fame as director of the 1854 Rotterdam festival held to celebrate 25 years of Toonkunst's existence. During the 1860s he assumed virtual control of Dutch musical life, becoming director of the Diligentia concerts in The Hague (1860), the choir of the Amsterdam section of Toonkunst and the Caecilia orchestra (both 1864) and the Felix Meritis orchestra (1865). His antipathy to the New German School (although he introduced Bruckner's Third Symphony to the Netherlands in 1885) forced his resignation from the Diligentia concerts in 1886, and he withdrew completely from public life shortly afterwards. [No: 23125] The image is of the second page only.
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