DO YOU LIKE BRAHMS? - The TRUE story of the mythical Brahms-Clara-Robert Schumann love triangle

The Clara Schumann Channel
22 Oct 202004:50

Summary

TLDRThe video explores the real-life love triangle between Clara Schumann, her husband Robert, and their friend Johannes Brahms, which inspired the Korean drama 'Do You Like Brahms?'. It delves into the deep emotional connections, mutual admiration for music, and the complex dynamics of their relationships. Despite Brahms' growing love for Clara, her enduring love for her husband remained. The video also hints at Robert's possible bisexuality and his affection for Brahms. It contrasts the drama's portrayal with historical events, highlighting the enduring 40-year friendship between Brahms and Clara post-Robert's death.

Takeaways

  • ๐ŸŽญ The Korean drama 'Do You Like Brahms?' is inspired by the real-life love triangle between Clara Schumann, her husband Robert Schumann, and their friend Johannes Brahms.
  • ๐ŸŽต Brahms met the Schumanns when he was 20, and they had been married for 14 years. Despite their marriage, both Clara and Robert were deeply moved by Brahms' music and personality.
  • ๐Ÿ’– Clara Schumann was likely in love with Brahms, even while still in love with her husband, as evidenced by her diary entries praising Brahms' expressive face and beautiful hands.
  • ๐Ÿณ๏ธโ€๐ŸŒˆ It's speculated that Robert Schumann may have had deeper feelings for Brahms, possibly indicating bisexuality, though Brahms viewed him as a mentor and father figure.
  • ๐ŸŽผ Brahms dedicated his second sonata to Clara and she helped him with his third sonata, showcasing their close professional and personal relationship.
  • ๐Ÿ  Brahms lived with the Schumanns, and his love for Clara grew stronger, especially during Robert's illness when Brahms provided emotional support to Clara.
  • ๐Ÿค” The drama diverges from reality by depicting Brahms and Clara's deepening relationship during Robert's hospitalization, a period when Brahms' love for Clara intensified.
  • ๐ŸŽน Clara, a renowned pianist and composer, played a significant role in Brahms' career, and her favorite piece by him was the Andante from his third sonata.
  • ๐Ÿ•ฐ๏ธ Despite Robert's death, Brahms and Clara maintained a 40-year friendship, with Brahms never fully committing to another relationship, possibly due to his enduring love for Clara.
  • ๐ŸŽถ The music in the background of the video is the Andante from Brahms's third sonata, which Clara particularly loved and often performed, reflecting the deep emotional connection between them.

Q & A

  • What is the Korean drama 'Do You Like Brahms?' based on?

    -The drama is based on the real-life love triangle that occurred between Clara Schumann, her husband Robert Schumann, and their friend Johannes Brahms.

  • How old was Johannes Brahms when he met Clara and Robert Schumann?

    -Johannes Brahms was only 20 years old when he met Clara and Robert Schumann, who had been married for 14 years at that time.

  • What was the initial reaction of Clara and Robert Schumann to Brahms?

    -Both Clara and Robert Schumann fell instantly in love with Brahms and his music at first sight, with Clara being particularly drawn to his music and Robert proclaiming him the next Beethoven.

  • Did Clara Schumann have feelings for Brahms beyond a professional relationship?

    -It's almost certain that Clara Schumann was in love with Brahms, even as she remained in love with her husband Robert. She loved his music deeply and was always encouraging him to compose more.

  • What is speculated about Robert Schumann's feelings towards Brahms?

    -It's speculated that Robert Schumann might have been bisexual and had deeper feelings for Brahms, although it's not certain. He certainly admired Brahms' music and talent.

  • How did Brahms view his relationship with Robert Schumann?

    -Brahms looked up to Robert Schumann as a surrogate father and teacher, and it was Clara with whom he fell madly in love.

  • What role did Clara play in Brahms' musical development?

    -Clara gave Brahms piano lessons and helped him write his third sonata. She was also the one who introduced his music to the public by playing it in her concerts.

  • How did the real-life love story differ from the drama in terms of Robert Schumann's health?

    -In the drama, Robert's illness is a significant plot point. In real life, Robert fell ill five months after Brahms met the Schumanns and had to be placed in a hospital, which deepened Brahms' emotional bond with Clara.

  • What was the nature of the relationship between Brahms and Clara after Robert Schumann's death?

    -Brahms and Clara maintained a deep friendship for 40 years following Robert's death, with Brahms always knowing that Clara loved her husband more than she ever loved him.

  • What is the significance of Brahms's third sonata in the context of his relationship with Clara?

    -Brahms's third sonata, which he wrote while living with the Schumanns and with Clara's help, was Clara's favorite piece of his. It was the first piece of his that was publicly performed and reflects the deep affection Brahms had for Clara.

  • What other aspects of Brahms's life will be discussed in the next episode of the video?

    -The next episode will explore how the character Park Jun-seo in the drama resembles Brahms in personality and appearance, as well as delve into the secrets behind the Chalmuri piece and other similarities to the backstory presented in the drama.

Outlines

00:00

๐ŸŽป The Real-Life Love Triangle of Brahms, Schumann, and Clara

This paragraph delves into the historical love triangle between Johannes Brahms, Clara Schumann, and her husband Robert Schumann, which inspired the Korean drama 'Do You Like Brahms?'. Brahms met the Schumanns when he was 20, and both Clara and Robert were immediately captivated by his music. It's suggested that Clara was in love with Brahms, possibly even romantically, while still loving her husband. Robert, a composer himself, recognized Brahms' talent, dubbing him the next Beethoven. The narrative also touches on the possibility of Robert's bisexuality and deeper feelings for Brahms. Despite Brahms' growing love for Clara, he maintained a respectful distance, seeing Robert as a mentor. The drama diverges from reality by introducing Robert's illness and hospitalization, which accelerated Brahms' and Clara's deepening emotional bond. The music featured, Brahms's Andante from his third sonata, was a favorite of Clara's and symbolizes Brahms' unrequited love.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กBrahms

Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and a key figure in the Romantic era of music. In the video, he is central to the love triangle narrative, having met Clara and Robert Schumann when he was 20 years old. His deep connection with Clara, both musically and personally, is a significant theme, as evidenced by his dedication of his second sonata to her and the mutual influence on each other's work.

๐Ÿ’กClara Schumann

Clara Schumann, nรฉe Wieck, was a German musician and composer, considered one of the most distinguished pianists of the Romantic era. The video script describes her as being deeply moved by Brahms's music and having a profound influence on his career. Her relationship with both Brahms and her husband Robert forms the core of the love triangle story.

๐Ÿ’กRobert Schumann

Robert Schumann was a German composer, pianist, and influential music critic. In the context of the video, he is portrayed as an admirer of Brahms's talent, even proclaiming him as the next Beethoven. His relationship with Clara and Brahms is complex, with suggestions of a possible deeper emotional bond with Brahms, adding to the intrigue of the love triangle.

๐Ÿ’กLove Triangle

A love triangle refers to a romantic situation involving three people, where two people are romantically involved with each other, and one of them is also romantically involved with a third person. In the video, this concept is used to describe the complex emotional dynamics between Brahms, Clara, and Robert Schumann, highlighting the intensity and depth of their relationships.

๐Ÿ’กKorean Drama

The video references a Korean drama based on the real-life love triangle involving Brahms, Clara, and Robert Schumann. The term 'Korean Drama' typically refers to television series from South Korea, known for their engaging narratives and high production values. The video discusses how the drama adapts the historical love story for a modern audience.

๐Ÿ’กMusical Dedication

In the context of classical music, a dedication is when a composer assigns a work to a specific person, often as a sign of respect or affection. The video mentions Brahms dedicating his second sonata to Clara, indicating the depth of his feelings for her and the significance of their musical collaboration.

๐Ÿ’กPiano Lessons

Piano lessons are instructional sessions focused on teaching the art of playing the piano. In the video, Clara is noted to have given Brahms piano lessons, which not only showcases her own musical prowess but also illustrates the close professional relationship they shared.

๐Ÿ’กSonata

A sonata is a type of musical composition that typically consists of multiple movements, each with its own tempo and character. The video specifically mentions Brahms's second and third sonatas, highlighting their importance in the composer's relationship with Clara Schumann.

๐Ÿ’กAndante

Andante is a musical term indicating a moderately slow tempo, often used in classical music. The video script mentions the Andante from Brahms's third sonata, which was a favorite of Clara's and played by her in concerts, suggesting the emotional significance of this piece in their story.

๐Ÿ’กChalmurai

Chalmurai is a piece by Brahms that is mentioned in the video as having a backstory related to the love triangle. Although not elaborated upon in the script, it is implied that this piece carries emotional weight and is connected to the complex relationships between the characters.

Highlights

The new Korean drama 'Do You Like Brahms?' is based on the real-life love triangle between Clara, Schumann, and Johannes Brahms.

The real-life love triangle was even more romantic than the show's portrayal.

Johannes Brahms met Clara and Robert Schumann when he was 20, and they had been married for 14 years.

Clara and Robert fell in love with Brahms and his music at first sight.

Clara loved Brahms' music deeply, and it's likely she was in love with him, even while still in love with her husband.

Robert Schumann proclaimed Brahms as the next Beethoven and wrote an article about it.

Clara's diary entries describe her admiration for Brahms' expressive face and beautiful hands.

It's possible that Robert Schumann was bisexual and had deeper feelings for Brahms.

Brahms looked up to Robert as a surrogate father and teacher, while he fell in love with Clara.

Brahms dedicated his second sonata to Clara, and she helped him write his third sonata.

Brahms moved in with the Schumanns, and his love for Clara grew as he provided emotional support during Robert's illness.

Clara was the most famous pianist in Europe at the time and a brilliant composer.

Brahms and Clara maintained a 40-year friendship after Robert's death.

The drama differs from the real story by showing Brahms living with Clara during Robert's hospitalization.

Brahms' music, including the Andante from his third sonata, reflects his deep love for Clara.

The Andante was Clara's favorite piece by Brahms and was the first of his works performed publicly.

Brahms' unrequited love for Clara is a central theme in the drama and his music.

The video includes a discussion of the similarities between the drama's characters and the historical figures.

The upcoming episode will explore the secrets behind the Chalmuri piece and its connection to the love triangle.

Transcripts

play00:00

the new korean drama do you like brahms

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that's based on the real life love

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triangle that happened between clara

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schumann and her husband robert

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and their friend johannes brahms it

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really did happen

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and was in many ways even more romantic

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than the show as

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amazingly romantic as the show is and so

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i thought i'd tell you a little bit

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about

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the real life love triangle and how it

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does relate to the show in many ways

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and some of the differences too johannes

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brahms

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met clara and robert when he was only 20

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years old and they'd been married for 14

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years already

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but robert and clara fell instantly in

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love with brahms and his music

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at first sight clara loved his music

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loved hearing him play and was always

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begging him to write more music she was

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really into him his music spoke to her

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her heart and soul in a very deep and

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intense way

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and it's almost certain that she really

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was in love with him

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even as she was still in love with her

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husband robert

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her husband was also very enamored and

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in love with roms from the very first

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time he met him

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he was in love with his music to the

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point where he

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proclaimed him the next beethoven for

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all the world

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and wrote an article about it in a paper

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calling him that

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clara talks about the first time she met

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brahms in her diary

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and talks about his beautifully

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expressive face

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and his beautiful hands and she also in

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her diary

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calls him roberts johannes that her

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husband

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already proclaimed him his and was in

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love with him we're not really sure but

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it's possible that robert was bisexual

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and

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had even deeper feelings for brahms

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though for certain brahms

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only looked up to robert as a surrogate

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father and teacher

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and it was truly clara who he fell madly

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in love with from the very start he

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dedicated his second sonata to her clara

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gave him piano lessons and helped him

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right third sonata

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it's true that brahms moved in with the

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schumann's and

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even as he fell daily in love with clara

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her husband was right there

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right next to them watching every minute

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robert likely knew

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that brahms was falling in love with his

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wife and i don't

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think he minded clara was the

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greatest and most famous pianist in

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europe

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at that point in the mid 19th century

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she was also a brilliant composer in her

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own right

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and robert knew that brahms would be

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helpless not to fall in love with her

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too

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it was kind of expected the main way

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that the korean drama isn't like the

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real life love story

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is that five months after brahms met the

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schumann's

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robert fell really ill and had to be

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placed in a hospital

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brahms stayed and lived with clara

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while she despaired that her husband was

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never going to recover

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he fell more and more deeply in love

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with her as he

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stayed with her and she depended on him

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for emotional support in her husband's

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absence

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her number one comfort in those days was

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asking brahms for more music and asking

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him to play for her

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she never stopped loving her husband she

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always loved him

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that she loved both her husband and

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brahms

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is very probable brahms knew that she

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was always in love with her husband

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and even after robert eventually died

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brahms always

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knew that clara would love her husband

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more

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than she ever loved him they lived for

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another 40 years and had a 40-year

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friendship i'm going to talk

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much more about what happened in that

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relationship

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and the other women that brahms tried to

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fall in love with

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but never actually made the commitment

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to partly because he was always too

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in love with clara to commit to anyone

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else the music that's been playing in

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the background and you see

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in the video is the andante from

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brahms's third sonata that he wrote when

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he moved in with the schumann's

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and clara helped him write it was

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clara's favorite thing that he wrote

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and she played it on her concerts it was

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the very first piece

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of his that was ever performed publicly

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and you can hear

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in the music how much he's falling in

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love with her

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and how much he's dying for her to love

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him back and

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can't you just imagine clara playing the

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music for him

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and to him it's so lovely in my next

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episode i'm going to talk about

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all the ways park junior resembles

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brahms

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in personality and looks and i'm going

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to talk a little bit

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about the secrets behind the chalmurai

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piece and

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some of the other background things that

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actually are very similar to the

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backstory

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in their second episode enjoy the music

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and

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let me know in the comments what else

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you'd like to know about the brahms

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clara robert love triangle

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hit like and subscribe all that see you

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next time

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Related Tags
Love TriangleClara SchumannRobert SchumannJohannes BrahmsKorean DramaClassical MusicHistorical RomanceMusical Inspiration19th CenturyCultural Impact