Brahms' A German Requiem

Sacred Music / Brahms German Requiem 

Johann Brahms' A German Requiem, to Words of the Holy Scriptures, Op. 45 (German: ''Ein deutsches Requiem, nach Worten der heiligen Schrift''), is a large-scale work for chorus, orchestra, a soprano and a baritone, composed between 1865 and 1868. The work comprises seven movements, which last about 65 to 80 minutes, considered Brahms' longest composition. A German Requiem is sacred but non-liturgical. 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.

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. 

 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." 

The libretto was assembled by Brahms himself. In contrast to the traditional Roman Catholic Requiem Mass which uses a standardised Latin text, this work is derived from the German Luther Bible.

Brahms's first known use of the title Ein deutsches Requiem was in an 1865 letter to Clara Schumann in which he wrote that he intended the piece to be "eine Art deutsches Requiem" (a sort of German Requiem). German refers mainly to the language rather than the intended audience. Brahms told Carl Martin Reinthaler, director of music at the Bremen Cathedral, that he would have called it "Ein menschliches Requiem" (A human Requiem).  Although the Requiem Mass in the Roman Catholic liturgy begins with prayers for the dead ("Grant them eternal rest, O Lord"),  A German Requiem focuses on the living, beginning with the text "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." from the Bible's Beatitudes. This theme, which transitions from anxiety to comfort, recurs in all the following movements except movements 4 and 7, the central one and the final one, although, the idea of the Lord is the source of the comfort, the sympathetic humanism persists through Brahms' A German Requiem.

Concerned over this, Brahms purposely omitted Christian dogma as he refused to add references to "the redeeming death of the Lord", (such as the ever-quoted John 3:16.  In recent years, in some performances, producers take liberty in inserting the aria from Handel's Messiah, to satisfy the clergy.

The details of the seven movements, instrumentation, and structure of Brahms German Requiem are not within the scope this post. 

Brahms Requiem Seven (7) Movements:

This requiem can be described as a progression from darkness to light. And at the end there is not redemption, just rest.

I. Selig sind, die da Leid tragen / Blessed are they that mourn who bear suffering 

II. Denn alles Fleisch, es ist wie Gras / For all flesh, it is as grass 

III. Herr, lehre doch mich, daß ein Ende mit mir haben muß / Lord, make me to know mine end 

IV. Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen / How lovely are thy dwellings 

V. Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit / And ye now therefore have sorrow

VI. Denn wir haben hier keine bleibende Statt / For here we have no lasting place

VII. Selig sind die Toten, die in dem Herrn sterben / Blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord.

History and Critical Analysis of Brahms German Requiem:

Brahms German Requiem - History and Scholarly Criticism by Nancy Thuleen.


Trivia (added 8 February 2019):

It's 'house music' from another age with an intimate arrangement for voices and piano duet of Brahms's deeply personal German Requiem. 

The Sydney Philharmonia Choirs - Symphony Chorus  presents Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem for it's first 2019 offering: "An Intimate Evening with Brahms" conducted by Simon Halsey. Emma  Pearson, soprano. Sam Roberts-Smith, baritone. Marlowe Fitzpatrick, piano. Claire Howard Race, piano.  Friday 8 February, 7pm, Sydney City Recital Hall.   

Trivia (added 7 August 2022).   

Simone Young conducts Brahms German Requiem. Music for the Soul. With its deeply moving message of love and hope, this is an uplifting meditation on life and light that speaks to us all. Featuring Danish opera star Bo Skovhus and soprano Emma Matthews, and the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Brahms’ epic choral piece brings together great musical forces to realise the work’s full power.

Presented by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO). Three performances, Friday to Sunday, 5 Aug 7pm,  Saturday and Sunday, 6-7 August, 2pm. Sydney Opera House Concert Hall.

Review: 5 Stars.  A German Requiem (Sydney Symphony Orchestra). Simone Young uncovers the hidden beauty of Brahms' German Requiem in this exquisite performance featuring soloists Emma Matthews and Bo Skovhus, and the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Limelight Magazine, by Jansson J. Antmann on 6 August, 2022 

 

Video Credit: 

Johannes Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem) - Op 45. conducted by David Zinman. YouTube, Uploaded by Frankfurt Radio Symphony. Accessed July 30, 2021.

This requiem can be described as a progression from darkness to light. And at the end there is not redemption, just rest.  I. Selig sind, die da Leid tragen / Blessed are they who bear suffering  II. Denn alles Fleisch, es ist wie Gras / For all flesh, it is as grass  III. Herr, lehre doch mich, daß ein Ende mit mir haben muß / Lord, make me to know mine end  IV. Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen / How lovely are thy dwellings  V. Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit / You now have sadness  VI. Denn wir haben hier keine bleibende Statt / For here we have no lasting place  VII. Selig sind die Toten, die in dem Herrn sterben / Blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord.

Brahms: Requiem (IV movement) - Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen. Performed and uploaded by Seraphic Fire, conducted by Patrick Dupré Quigley, conductor. Accessed August 5, 2022.

Resources: 

A German Requiem, Op. 45. www.britannica.com. Accessed July 22, 2015.
A German Requiem (Brahms). en.wikipedia.com.

Note: I originally wrote this for Suite101.com in 2009, reposted, 7th May 2015 (Brahms birthday). A week ago, I found out that the original video was no longer available, but I found this same one, later uploaded by Lance Skrull. / Tel

 

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