Johannes Brahms. Ein deutsches Requiem

Hiemke Johannes Brahms. Ein deutsches Requiem
German text

Brahms broke away from much when he wrote "Ein deutsches Requiem": from the traditional liturgical form, from the usual Latin text, from the content of the Missa pro defunctis.  Instead, he put together biblical texts that drastically portray the transience of man, but also bring many comforting words to sound.

In his introduction to the work, Sven Hiemke opens up the perspective on Brahms's intention to write a requiem for the living, on his inspiration by funeral music of old masters and contemporaries, and on the question of the extent to which Brahms's own religiosity influenced the "German Requiem". 

This is followed by an overview of the conception of the work as a whole and a vivid presentation of the individual movements.  A chapter on the reception and arrangements of the work rounds off this paperback.

- click on the prefaces tab below for extracts