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Johannes Brahms (/brɑːmz/; German: [joˈhanəs ˈbʁaːms]; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor of the mid-Romantic period. His music is rooted in the structures and compositional techniques of his Classical (and earlier) forebears, including Ludwig van Beethoven and Johann Sebastian Bach. His compositions include four symphonies, four concertos, a Requiem, and many songs, amongst other music for symphony orchestra, piano, organ, voices, and chamber ensembles. They remain a staple of the concert repertoire.

Born to a musical family in Hamburg, he composed in his youth, concertizing locally. He toured Central Europe as a pianist in his early adulthood, working with Ede Reményi and Joseph Joachim, meeting Franz Liszt in Weimar, and premiering many of his own works. He was self-conscious and could be severely self-critical, but his music was largely successful.