Music · 1833–1897

Johannes Brahms — Age & Birthday

Born: 7 May 1833 · Died: 3 April 1897 · Age at death: 63

How old was Johannes Brahms when he died?

Johannes Brahms died aged 63. He was born on 7 May 1833 and died on 3 April 1897.

German Romantic composer of four symphonies, A German Requiem, the Hungarian Dances and the famous Lullaby

Did you know?He was such a rigorous perfectionist that he destroyed many of his early works and sketches, leaving only his most polished compositions.

Editor's Take:

Brahms took the great classical traditions of Bach and Beethoven and filled them with Romantic warmth. He was such a careful composer that he took around twenty years to complete his First Symphony, nervous of following in Beethoven's footsteps. His music combines rich harmonies, singing melodies and tightly built structures. Works such as his German Requiem, violin concerto and four symphonies are pillars of the concert repertoire. His gentle lullaby, Wiegenlied, is sung to babies all over the world.

Key Milestones

  1. 1853: Meets the Schumanns – Robert praises him as a genius
  2. 1862: Moves to Vienna
  3. 1868: A German Requiem – major choral work
  4. 1868: Lullaby – Wiegenlied published

Johannes Brahms (German:; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the mid-Romantic period. His music features expressive counterpoint, freer dissonance, rhythmic vitality, and traditional forms.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Profile

Johannes Brahms: Romantic Master of Classical Form

German composer and pianist, born in Hamburg on 7 May 1833

Johannes Brahms was born in Hamburg on 7 May 1833, the son of a double bass player. As a boy he played piano in taverns and dance halls to help support his family.

In 1853 he met Robert and Clara Schumann, who championed his music. His close friendship with Clara lasted the rest of their lives.

He settled in Vienna in 1862, where he wrote A German Requiem, four symphonies and the Hungarian Dances. He died there in 1897.

Career highlights

  1. 1833Born in Hamburg
  2. 1853Meets the Schumanns: Robert praises him as a genius
  3. 1862Moves to Vienna
  4. 1868A German Requiem: major choral work
  5. 1868Lullaby: Wiegenlied published
  6. 1876Symphony No. 1: after many years of work
  7. 1878Violin Concerto
  8. 1897Dies in Vienna

Did you know?He was a lifelong bachelor and often went walking in the hills around Vienna, with pockets full of sweets to give to children he met.

Age at death
63
Years since death
129

Questions people ask

Frequently asked questions

When is Johannes Brahms's birthday?
Johannes Brahms's birthday is May 7. He was born on May 7, 1833 in Hamburg, Germany.
How old was Johannes Brahms when he died?
Johannes Brahms died on April 3, 1897, aged 63.
Who shares a birthday with Johannes Brahms?
Famous people who share Johannes Brahms's May 7 birthday include Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Josip Broz Tito, Eva Perón, Władysław Reymont and Gary Cooper.

Born on the same day6

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Reviewed by the Who Shares My Birthday editorial team.

Last reviewed: October 2026