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Marlow Community Choir at Borlase
Johannes Brahms - Ein Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem)

Ein Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem)
A German Requiem, To Words of the Holy Scriptures, Op. 45 (German: Ein deutsches Requiem, nach Worten der heiligen Schrift) by Johannes Brahms, is a large-scale work for chorus, orchestra, and a Soprano and a Baritone soloist, composed between 1865 and 1868. It comprises seven movements, which together last 65 to 80 minutes, making this work Brahms's longest composition. A German Requiem is sacred but non-liturgical, and unlike a long tradition of the Latin Requiem, A German Requiem, as its title states, is a Requiem in the German language.
The work is divided into seven movements, and all but the central fourth movement consist of multiple parts, being based on different bible texts, and having different moods, tempi, keys, and orchestration, as shown in the following table:
Title | Solo | Key | Tempo | T | Source | Translation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I Selig sind, die da Leid tragen | F maj | Ziemlich langsam und mit Ausdruck (Rather slow and with expression) | C | Matthew 5:4 | Blessed are they who bear suffering | |
Die mit Tränen säen, werden mit Freuden ernten | D♭ maj | Psalm 126:5-6 | They that sow in tears shall reap in joy | |||
Selig sind, die da Leid tragen | F maj | Blessed are they who bear suffering | ||||
II Denn alles Fleisch, es ist wie Gras | B♭ min | Langsam, marschmäßig (Slow, like a march) | 3/4 | 1 Peter 1:24 | For all flesh, it is as grass | |
So seid nun geduldig | G♭ maj | James 5:7 | So be patient | |||
Denn alles Fleisch, es ist wie Gras | B♭ min | For all flesh, it is as grass | ||||
Aber des Herrn Wort bleibet in Ewigkeit | B♭ maj | 1 Peter 1:25 | But the Lord's word remains forever | |||
Die Erlöseten des Herrn werden wiederkommen | C | Isaiah 35:10 | The ransomed of the Lord shall return | |||
Freude, ewige Freude | Joy, eternal joy | |||||
III Herr, lehre doch mich | B | D min | Andante moderato | C | Psalm 39:4 | Lord, teach me |
Ach, wie gar nichts | B |   | 3/2 | Psalm 39:5-6 | Ah, how in vain | |
Ich hoffe auf dich | D maj | Psalm 39:7 | My hope is in you | |||
Der Gerechten Seelen sind in Gottes Hand |   | 4/2 | Wis 3:1 | The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God | ||
IV Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen |   | E♭ maj | Mäßig bewegt (Moderately moving) | 3/4 | Psalm 84:1,2,4 | How lovely are thy dwellings |
V Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit | S | G maj | Langsam (Slow) | C | John 16:22 | You now have sadness |
Ich will euch trösten |   | Isaiah 66:13 | I will comfort you | |||
Sehet mich an | S | B♭ maj | Sirach 51:27 | Look at me | ||
Ich will euch trösten |   | I will comfort you | ||||
Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit | S | You now have sadness | ||||
Ich will euch trösten |   | G maj | I will comfort you | |||
VI Denn wir haben hie keine bleibende Statt |   | C min | Andante | C | Hewbrews 13:14 | For here we have no lasting place |
Siehe, ich sage euch ein Geheimnis | B | F♯ min | 1 Cor 15:51-52 | Behold, I tell you a mystery | ||
Denn es wird die Posaune schallen |   | C min | Vivace | 3/4 | 1 Cor 15:52 | For the trumpet (lit. trombone) will sound |
Dann wird erfüllet werden | B | 1 Cor 15:54 | Then shall be fulfilled | |||
Der Tod ist verschlungen in den Sieg |   | 1 Cor 15:54-55 | Death is swallowed up in victory | |||
Herr, du bist würdig |   | C maj | Allegro | 4/2 | Rev 4:11 | Lord, you are worthy |
VII Selig sind die Toten |   | F maj | Feierlich (Solemn) | C | Rev 14:13 | Blessed are the dead |
Ja, der Geist spricht, daß sie ruhen |   | A maj | Yea, the Spirit speaks that they rest | |||
Selig sind die Toten |   | F maj | Blessed are the dead |
German/English libretto. The correct German pronunciation can be head by moving your mouse over the German text. On a tablet, you will have to click the text.
The following rehearsal aids can be downloaded or listened to online. Mp3 files are provided for each movement, with each voice part emphasised, or with all voice parts at the same level. Zip files provide all seven movements in one downloadable file. The scorch link allows the score to be viewed and played online. This also allows the sibelius score file to be downloaded and printed. To use scorch, you will need the scorch browser plug-in. These can be found on the downloads page under 'Other Files'.