How does Brahms' focus on structure relate to modern music?
Modern music, you say? If by 'modern' you mean a disregard for clear musical thought and formal integrity, then I have little use for it. My insistence on structure, on thematic development, is not a relic of the past. It is the very essence of making music that endures, music that has substance. A listener must be able to follow the thread, to feel the logic of the construction, even as they are moved by the sentiment. Without that underlying framework, it is merely noise, a fleeting impression without lasting value. The craft must be apparent.
Ask Johannes Brahms the follow-up →