A German requiem

Ein deutsches Requiem , COp 45 (French: a German requiem ) is a work for chorus, Orchestre and Soliste S composed by Johannes Brahms between 1865 and 1868. Ein deutsches Requiem is a crowned but nonliturgical work. It is made up of 7 Mouvements and lasts 70-80 minutes what makes of it the longest composition of Brahms. This Requiem ensured the celebrity to him.

History

The mother of Brahms died in February 1865, a loss which deeply pained it and which could have inspired to him Ein deutsches Requiem . The death of Robert Schumann in July 1865 could have also been a motivation.

At the end of April 1865, Brahms finished the first, the second and the fourth movements. The second movement used musical, since abandoned material, written in 1854, year of mental collapse and suicide attempt of Schumann and voyage of Brahms with Düsseldorf in order to help Clara Schumann and its seven children.

Brahms finished what is the fifth movement in August 1866 today. Johannes Herbeck directed the first three movements to Vienna on December 1st, 1867. Although this first had badly occurred, the six movements then existing were played six months later with the cathedral of Bremen for the Good Friday 1868 with Brahms as a leader and Julius Stockhausen as a soloist Baryton. The concert was a success and marked a turning in the career of Brahms.

Brahms added the fifth movement in May 1868. He was sung for the first time at Zurich on September 12th, 1868 by Ida Suter-Weber with Friedrich Hegar directing the Orchestre of Tonhalle of Zurich. The final one, the seventh movement, was created with Leipzig on February 18th, 1869 by Carl Reinecke and the Orchestre of Gewandhaus of Leipzig with for soloists Emilie Bellingrath-Wagner and Franz Krükl.

Text

Brahms created the booklet of Ein deutsches Requiem itself. Contrary to the Catholic Mass of Requiem traditional which uses a standard text in Latin, Ein deutsches Requiem car its text of the Bible Protestante of Martin Luther.

The first known time where Brahms used the title “a German Requiem” was in a letter with Clara Schumann in which he wrote that he wanted that the part is “a kind of German requiem”. Brahms was very moved when he discovered years later that Robert Schumann had thought of a similar work. “German” rather refers initially to the language than with the public. Brahms entrusted to Karl Reinthaler, the leader of the cathedral of Bremen, which it would have readily called a “human Requiem” this work.

Although the mass of requiem of the catholic liturgy starts with the prayer for the dead (“Lord, give them the eternal rest”), Ein deutsches Requiem stresses the alive ones with Blessed text the “is their sorrow: that they are relieved of it”. This humanistic and crowned vision is visible throughout work.

Movements

(Blessed either their sorrow)
" (Lord, lets know my end to me)
"
"
"
" (Blessed are the late ones which died in the faith)

Orchestration

Ein deutsches Requiem is written for:

Soprano and Baritone Soloist S
chorus S
2 Flute S and Piccolo
2 Oboes
2 Clarinet S
2 Bassoon S and Double bassoon S
4 horns
3 Trumpet S
3 Trombone S
tuba
Toothing-stone (a part, preferably doubled)
Timpani
Organ ( AD libitum )
Cords

The use of the toothing-stone at the end of the seventh movement is seizing because she did not play since the medium of the second movement.

Selection of recordings

Classé alphabetically according to the chief of orchestre

Claudio Abbado directs the Berliner Philharmoniker (Germany). Recorded on line in 1992 and published in 1993 by Deutsche Grammophon.
Gerd Albrecht directs the Danish National Orchestrated (Denmark). Published in 2003 by Chetos.
Frieder Bernius directs the Stuttgart Classical Philharmonic Orchestra (Germany). Recorded in 1997 and published in 2002 by Carus-verlag.
Philippe Herreweghe directs the Orchestre of the Fields-Élysées (France). Recorded on line in 1996 and published in 1996 by Harmonia Mundi.
Craig Jessop directs the Utah Symphony Orchestra (the USA) & the Mormon Gate vault Choir. Recorded in February 1999 and published in October 1999 by Telarc. Recorded in English.
Herbert von Karajan directs the Berliner Philharmoniker and the Wiener Singverein (Germany). Recorded in 1964 and published in 2002 by Deutsche Grammophon.
Otto Klemperer directs the Philharmonia Orchestra (English). Recorded in 1961 and published in 1999 by EMI Classics.
Rafael Kubelík directs the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Recorded on line in 1978 and published in 2002 by Audited.
Kurt Masur directs the New York Philharmonic (U.S.). Recorded on line in 1995 and published in 1995 by Teldec.
André Previn directs the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (English). Recorded in 1986 and published in 2002 per Apex.
Wolfgang Sawallisch directs the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (Germany). Published in 1995 by Orfeo.
Carl Schuricht directs the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra (Germany). Recorded in 1959 and published in 2004 by Hanssler Classic.
Robert Shaw directs the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chœur (the USA). Recorded in 1990 and published in 1992 by Telarc.

Sources

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