Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 (Johannes Brahms)
Music files
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Complete score
- Editors: Philip Legge and Andrew Raiskums (added 2006-09-28). Score information: A4, 131 pages, 1.4 MB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: the organ part is from Andrew Raiskums' re-orchestration of the German Requiem for 2 horns, 3 trombones, timpani, and organ. Individual movements below; nota bene, the complete score is a large file (1.4 MB).
Individual movements
- Selig sind, die da Leid tragen CPDL #11825: Sibelius 3 Score information: A4, 15 pages, 183 kB
- Denn alles Fleisch CPDL #11826: Sibelius 3 Score information: A4, 29 pages, 318 kB
- Herr, lehre doch mich CPDL #11827: Sibelius 3 Score information: A4, 19 pages, 238 kB
- Wie lieblich sind CPDL #11828: Sibelius 3 Score information: A4, 13 pages, 181 kB
- Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit CPDL #11829: Sibelius 3 Score information: A4, 8 pages, 128 kB
- Denn wir haben hie CPDL #11830: Sibelius 3 Score information: A4, 30 pages, 321 kB
- Selig sind die Toten CPDL #11831: Sibelius 3 Score information: A4, 17 pages, 186 kB
- Editors: Philip Legge and Andrew Raiskums (added 2006-06-07). Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: the organ part is from Andrew Raiskums' re-orchestration of the German Requiem for 2 horns, 3 trombones, timpani, and organ.
Alternative edition for movement 4
- Editor: Kelvin Smith (submitted 2003-05-07). Score information: Letter, 6 pages Copyright: Public Domain
- Edition notes: In English translation ("How Lovely is Thy dwelling Place"). May be found under "Choir--Parts Only" on the external site.
General Information
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Instruments: piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon ad lib., 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, 3 timpani, harps (at least doubled), violins à 3, violas à 3, violoncellos à 3, contrabasses à 2, organ ad lib.
Description: Brahms' German Requiem is his greatest choral work and possibly the best known work in its genre – that is, of "Requiems" standing outside the liturgical settings of the Latin requiem mass. Brahms consciously chose words from the Bible (including the Apocrypha) concentrating on the consoling of the bereaved as well as the peaceful deposition of the souls of the departed: the three extended movements for the full orchestra each end affirmatively with emphasis on everlasting joy, or the departed souls of the righteous resting peacefully in God's hands, or of victory over the grave. The seven movements of the work are laid out as an arch, buttressed by the invocations of "Selig sind" – blessed be those who mourn, or those who have died.
Moreover Brahms clearly saw his work as the latest in a line of Protestant Requiems stretching back to Luther. Brahms consciously quoted a 17th century chorale tune, Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten, in the second movement; and elsewhere there are echoes of Praetorius and Heinrich Schütz, particularly in the first and final movements; and the expressive Bach-like polyphony as well as glorious fugues that cap the third and sixth movements.
External websites:
Original text and translations
German text | English translation |
Ein deutsches Requiem | A German Requiem |
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1.
Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Psalm 126:5–6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
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2.
1 Peter 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower thereof falleth away. James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receive the morning and evening rain. 1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. |
3.
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3.
Psalm 39:4–7 Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.
Wisdom of Solomon 3:1 The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God and there shall no torment touch them. |
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Psalm 84:1,2&4 How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts!
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John 16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. Ecclesiasticus 51:27 Behold with your eyes, how that I have but little labour, and have gotten unto me much rest. Isaiah 66:13 As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you. |
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Hebrews 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 1 Corinthians 15:51–52,54–55 Behold, I show you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. |
7.
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7.
Revelation 14:13 Blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord, from henceforth. Yea, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. |
(The English translation above is largely the King James Version, slightly adapted by Philip Legge.)