smiling through tears

One of the best descriptions of my favorite composers, Johannes Brahms greeted me this morning. And I am inspired to revisit one of my favorites, his wonderful op. 117 and 118 Intermezzi.

"I find Brahms the most companionable, the most sympathetic of composers. There is enormous sadness in his work, and yet it is a sadness that glows with understanding, that eases gloom by sharing its own. The music seems in a strange way to be listening to you, even as you listen to it. At a time when an uncommonly large number of people are experiencing grief, I recommend Brahms as a counsellor and confidant.
He is the great poet of the ambiguous, in-between, nameless emotions: ambient unease, pervasive wistfulness, bemused resignation, contained rage, ironic merriment, smiling through tears, the almost pleasurable fatigue of deep depression."

Alex Ross

I highly recommend the entire article if you have time.

via {the New Yorker}