Claudio Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic, the Swedish Radio Choir, the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir, Barbara Bonney (soprano) and Bryn Terfel (baritone) perform A German Requiem (original title: Ein deutsches Requiem), op. 45 by Johannes Brahms in the Musikverein in Vienna, 1997.
This large-scale work for choir, orchestra, and soprano and baritone soloists was composed between 1865 and 1868. It comprises seven movements, which together last 65 to 80 minutes, making this Brahms's longest composition. A German Requiem is sacred but non-liturgical. Unlike the long tradition of Latin requiems, A German Requiem (Ein deutsches Requiem) is, as the title indicates, in the German language.
Johannes Brahms premiered this work on April 10, 1868, for an audience that included his lifelong friend - and fellow composer - Clara Schumann. Brahms was 34 at the time, and this would become the signature moment of his career.
A humanist, agnostic and religious skeptic, Johannes Brahms selected passages from the Bible and set them to music in German, his native tongue. For the composer, known for not wearing his heart on his sleeve and for keeping to himself all matters emotional, personal and spiritual, the text selections can be seen as a personal statement.
And it is a profoundly moving statement, with various moods fitting the desperation and emotional spectrum of grief. But the final movement is radiant and gentle, with the words, "Blessed are the dead … they rest from their labors." This requiem can be described as a progression from darkness to light. And at the end there is not redemption, just rest.
(00:00:34) I. Selig sind, die da Leid tragen / Blessed are they who bear suffering
(00:11:16) II. Denn alles Fleisch, es ist wie Gras / For all flesh, it is as grass
(00:26:33) III. Herr, lehre doch mich, daß ein Ende mit mir haben muß / Lord, make me to know mine end
(00:37:15) IV. Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen / How lovely are thy dwellings
(00:43:14) V. Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit / You now have sadness
(00:51:01) VI. Denn wir haben hier keine bleibende Statt / For here we have no lasting place
(01:03:06) VII. Selig sind die Toten, die in dem Herrn sterben / Blessed are the dead, which die in the lord
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