This thesis examines Johannes Brahms’ late chamber music works for clarinet—the Trio in A Minor, Op. 114, and the Clarinet Quintet in B Minor, Op. 115—with particular emphasis on the latter. Composed during the final years of Brahms’ life, these works mark a pivotal moment in both his artistic development and the clarinet’s role within the chamber’s music repertoire. Their genesis, inspired by Brahms’ encounter with the virtuoso clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld, reignited his creative energy after a period of near retirement, rendering these compositions not only musically significant but deeply personal.

The purpose of this research is to explore the historical context, musical structure, and interpretive challenges of these works, with a special focus on my artistic process while preparing the Clarinet Quintet for my master’s final performance. Through a combination of historical research, musical analysis, and performance-based inquiry, the thesis reflects a personal and artistic engagement with these compositions. By examining their formal design, harmonic language, and thematic development, I aim to better understand Brahms’ mature compositional voice and the expressive depth these pieces demand of performers.

Motivated by the desire to uncover the subtle emotional and technical layers in Brahms’ clarinet writing, this study highlights how historical awareness and analytical insight can inform and enrich modern performance. Ultimately, the research seeks to contribute to both scholarly discourse and performance practice, demonstrating how Brahms’ late clarinet works stand as milestones of the repertoire and as profound reflections of a composer contemplating legacy, expression, and the closing chapter of his creative life.