--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Germans have four violin concertos…" description: "\"The Germans have four violin concertos. The greatest, most uncompromising is Beethoven’s. The one by Brahms vies with it in seriousness. The richest, t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d27/joseph-joachim-250433_brahms_the-germans-have-four-violin-concertos-t_2153498.png" --- # The Germans have four violin concertos. The greatest, most… ![“The Germans have four violin concertos. The greatest, most uncompromising is Beethoven’s. The one by Brahms vies with it in seriousness. The richest, the most seductive, was written by Max Bruch. But the most inward, the heart’s jewel, is Mendelssohn’s.” quote by Joseph Joachim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d27/joseph-joachim-250433_brahms_the-germans-have-four-violin-concertos-t_2153498.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d27/joseph-joachim-250433_brahms_the-germans-have-four-violin-concertos-t_2153498.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d27/joseph-joachim-250433_brahms_the-germans-have-four-violin-concertos-t_2153498.png) > “The Germans have four violin concertos. The greatest, most uncompromising is Beethoven’s. The one by Brahms vies with it in seriousness. The richest, the most seductive, was written by Max Bruch. But the most inward, the heart’s jewel, is Mendelssohn’s.” Joseph Joachim ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Each composer offers a distinct voice in the violin concerto repertoire, reflecting personal style and era. **In simple terms:** Different composers have unique concerto styles. Key Takeaway Explore varied musical expressions. Themes Music Composer Violin Artistic voice Historical context Mood appreciative inquisitive reflective Type Brahms:1 Four:0 Heart:0 Inward:0 Jewels:0 Max:0 Mendelssohn:1 Seductive:0 Seriousness:1 Song:0 Uncompromising:0 Violin:1 Written:0 Concertos:1 Violin Concertos:1 Germans Violin:0 Concertos Greatest:0 When to use this quote - concert attendance - music study - performance preparation - cultural appreciation - record listening Key Concepts Romanticism Nationalism Technical virtuosity Emotional depth Questions to Reflect On - Which concerto resonates most with you? - How does cultural background shape musical preference? A Different Perspective Personal taste may limit appreciation of less familiar works. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Mendelssohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mendelssohn/) [Seductive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seductive/) [Seriousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seriousness/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Violin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violin/) ## Related quotes > [If I can add, say, 10 great new violin concertos to the repertoire before I'm done, that will be truly exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-josefowicz/if-i-can-add-say-10-great-new-violin-concertos-to-the-repertoire/) [Leila Josefowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-josefowicz/) > [If you go to Japan for instance, you should know that they have a different way of playing Beethoven or Brahms. But if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-masur/if-you-go-to-japan-for-instance-you-should-know-that-they-have-a/) [Kurt Masur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-masur/) > [That was one of the big problems when I was at Harvard studying music. We had to write choral pieces in the style of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-carter/that-was-one-of-the-big-problems-when-i-was-at-harvard-studying-music/) [Elliott Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-carter/) > [I do remember realizing one day that I loved plays more than I loved playing concertos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cariani/i-do-remember-realizing-one-day-that-i-loved-plays-more-than-i-loved/) [John Cariani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cariani/) > [If I were to run around the world playing just the cello concertos - and believe me, I love playing them - I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-finckel/if-i-were-to-run-around-the-world-playing-just-the-cello-concertos/) [David Finckel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-finckel/) > [Looking back on it now, I felt that I was blessed much like the masters, I guess - the guys who wrote the concertos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-orbison/looking-back-on-it-now-i-felt-that-i-was-blessed-much-like-the/) [Roy Orbison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-orbison/) > [ I developed an anger at \[Moses\] Mendelssohn. Later, I read the book. I realized there was nothing subversive in it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-developed-an-anger-at-moses-mendelssohn-later-i-read-the-book-i/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [I once painted a concert singer and on the chestnut frame I carved the opening bars of Mendelssohn's Rest in the Lord. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-eakins/i-once-painted-a-concert-singer-and-on-the-chestnut-frame-i-carved/) [Thomas Eakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-eakins/) > [ I became one of \[Moses Mendelssohn\] defenders. But then I heard the words "Biblical criticism" again. And, of course, afterward, I studied it more… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-became-one-of-moses-mendelssohn-defenders-but-then-i-heard-the/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“I stayed at home because I prefer to be in my own room, with my own family, or in my garden — which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-mendelssohn/i-stayed-at-home-because-i-prefer-to-be-in-my-own-room-with-my-own/) [Felix Mendelssohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-mendelssohn/) > [The years 1781 to 1793 are crucial for many reasons, but chiefly because they pose in an especially clear way the main problem of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-c-beiser/the-years-1781-to-1793-are-crucial-for-many-reasons-but-chiefly/) [Frederick C. Beiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-c-beiser/) > [ \[Moses\] Mendelssohn was a religious Jew. I felt sorry for him. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/moses-mendelssohn-was-a-religious-jew-i-felt-sorry-for-him/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“If, as Moses Mendelssohn maintains, Judaism is not a religion but a revealed legislation, it seems strange that such a God should be its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-cioran/if-as-moses-mendelssohn-maintains-judaism-is-not-a-religion-but-a/) [Emil Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-cioran/) > [According to Miller, Pharisee Judaism is not a religion at all, but a secret society posing as a religion, a "sect with Judaism as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-starr-miller/according-to-miller-pharisee-judaism-is-not-a-religion-at-all-but-a/) Edith Starr Miller > [“Mendelssohn’s books on philosophy and literature were hailed throughout Europe. He was described as “exceptional”—an “un-Jewish Jew,” one of a kind, a genius.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-goldstein/mendelssohn-s-books-on-philosophy-and-literature-were-hailed/) [Phyllis Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-goldstein/) ## More Brahms quotes > [“At breakfast, I might pass a Brahms symphony in my head. Then I am called to the phone, and half an hour later I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rubinstein/at-breakfast-i-might-pass-a-brahms-symphony-in-my-head-then-i-am/) [Arthur Rubinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rubinstein/) > [I listen to music when I write. I need the musical background. Classical music. I'm behind the times. I'm still with Baroque music, Gregorian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-listen-to-music-when-i-write-i-need-the-musical-background/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Even if you're playing Brahms or a Beethoven concerto, you've got to have a different vantage point, slightly, each time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/even-if-you-re-playing-brahms-or-a-beethoven-concerto-you-ve-got-to/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) > [Brahms' Variations are better than mine, but mine were written before his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-liszt/brahms-variations-are-better-than-mine-but-mine-were-written-before/) [Franz Liszt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-liszt/) > [Reviewer: 'One of your themes was very similar to one of Beethoven's!' Brahms replied, 'Of course it is. Everyone steals - the important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-brahms/reviewer-one-of-your-themes-was-very-similar-to-one-of-beethoven-s/) [Johannes Brahms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-brahms/) > [Fortunately, I started very young, so I read music very well. And my favorite composers to play are Brahms and Mozart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/fortunately-i-started-very-young-so-i-read-music-very-well-and-my/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I play a lot chamber music.As for something that's hard for me to play, before I leave this Earth I'm hoping to play Brahms'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-play-a-lot-chamber-music-as-for-something-that-s-hard-for-me-to/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [Brahms once remarked that the mark of an artist is how much he throws away. Nature, the great creator, is always throwing things away.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/brahms-once-remarked-that-the-mark-of-an-artist-is-how-much-he-throws/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) > [Brahms believed that there was no need to publish absolutely everything that Schubert ever wrote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-fischer-dieskau/brahms-believed-that-there-was-no-need-to-publish-absolutely/) [Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-fischer-dieskau/) > [“Classical music is not really my thing, and I know absolutely nothing about it. If you told me you saw Brendel play Brahms last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rosenfelt/classical-music-is-not-really-my-thing-and-i-know-absolutely-nothing/) [David Rosenfelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rosenfelt/) > [You don't see the European classical musicians allowing the music of Bach, Brahms, or Beethoven to become extinct. That music has gone on for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahsaan-roland-kirk/you-don-t-see-the-european-classical-musicians-allowing-the-music-of/) [Rahsaan Roland Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahsaan-roland-kirk/) > [A landscape, torn by mists and clouds, in which I can see ruins of old churches, as well as of Greek temples - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edvard-grieg/a-landscape-torn-by-mists-and-clouds-in-which-i-can-see-ruins-of-old/) [Edvard Grieg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edvard-grieg/) > [Brahms is life-changing every time. And though I love him, I can't say that about Mompou.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hough/brahms-is-life-changing-every-time-and-though-i-love-him-i-can-t-say/) [Stephen Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hough/) > [The only work that can be compared to Chopin's Etudes, innovatively, where every note is essential and one becomes completely exposed, is the Brahms-Paganini…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-grante/the-only-work-that-can-be-compared-to-chopin-s-etudes-innovatively/) [Carlo Grante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlo-grante/) > [The Detroit String Quartet played Brahms last night. Brahms lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bennett-cerf/the-detroit-string-quartet-played-brahms-last-night-brahms-lost/) [Bennett Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bennett-cerf/) Browse all 42 Brahms quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Germans have four violin concertos. 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