Johannes Brahms

Brahms, one of the great composers of all time, was born in Hamburg in 1833. His father was a musician and double-bass player. Johannes had an older sister, Elise, and a younger brother, Friedrich. He had a gift for music and taught himself violin 'cello and french horn. His piano tutor from age 7 was Otto Cossel and he studied composition and piano under Eduard Marxsen from age 13, later dedicating a work to Marxsen. He later settled in Vienna, where he assumed the status of Beethoven's successor.