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| + | Composer [[Johannes Brahms]] wrote '''''A German Requiem, To Words of the Holy Scriptures''''' ([[German language|German]] title: '''''Ein deutsches Requiem, nach Worten der heiligen Schrift''''', Op. 45) after the death of his mother in 1865. It is a large-scale work for chorus, soprano and baritone soloists, and large [[orchestra]]. The text was assembled by the composer from various passages in the [[Martin Luther|Luther]] Bible, but does not follow the typical liturgical setting of the [[Requiem|Requiem Mass]]. Moreover, as the title implies, the text is in German (rather than Latin as would be usual for a Requiem), and more aligned with the [[Humanism|Humanist]] philosophical beliefs prevalent in late 19th-century German-speaking countries than with Christian doctrine. |
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| | + | It is cast in seven movements, and requires between 70 and 80 minutes to perform. |
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| | + | ==Movements and Text== |
| | + | ===I. Selig sind, die da Leid tragen=== |
| | + | Blessed are they that mourn,<br />For they shall be comforted. ''(Matthew 5:4<ref>All translations quoted from the King James Version</ref>)''<br /><br /> |
| | + | They that sow in tears<br />Shall reap in joy.<br /> |
| | + | 'He that goeth forth and weepeth,<br />Bearing precious seed,<br />Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,<br />Bringing his sheaves with him. ''(Psalm 126:5-6)'' |
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| | + | ===II. Denn alles Fleisch es ist wie Gras=== |
| | + | For all flesh is as grass,<br />And all the glory of man<br />As the flower of grass.<br />The grass withereth,<br />And the flower thereof falleth away. ''(I Peter 1:24)''<br /><br /> |
| | + | Be patient therefore, bretheren,<br />Unto the coming of the Lord.<br />Behold, the husbandman waiteth<br />For the precious fruit of the earth,<br />And hath long patience for it,<br />Until he receive the early and latter rain.<br />Be patient therefore. ''(James 5:7)''<br /><br /> |
| | + | But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. ''(I Peter 1:25)''<br /><br /> |
| | + | And the ransomed of the Lord shall return<br />And come to Zion with songs<br />And everlasting joy upon their heads:<br />They shall obtain joy and gladness,<br />And sorrow and sighing shall flee away. ''(Isaiah 35:10)'' |
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| | + | ===III. Herr, lehre doch mich=== |
| | + | Lord, make me to know mine end,<br />And the measure of my days,<br />What it is, that I may know how frail I am.<br /> |
| | + | Behold, thou hast made my days<br />As an handbreadth;<br />And mine age is as nothing before thee:<br />Verily every man at his best state<br />Is altogether vanity.<br /> |
| | + | Surely every man walketh in a vain show:<br />Surely they are disquieted in vain:<br />He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not<br />Who shall gather them.<br /> |
| | + | And now, Lord, what wait I for?<br />My hope is in thee. ''(Psalm 39:5-8)''<br /><br /> |
| | + | The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God<br />And there shall no torment touch them. ''(Wisdom of Solomon 3:1)'' |
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| | + | ===IV. Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen=== |
| | + | How amiable are thy tabernacles,<br />O Lord of hosts!<br />My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth<br />For the courts of the Lord:<br />My heart and my flesh crieth out<br />For the living God.<br />Blessed are they that dwell in thy house:<br />They will be still praising thee. ''(Psalm 84:2, 3, 5.)'' |
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| | + | ===V. Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit=== |
| | + | And ye now therefore have sorrow:<br />But I will see you again,<br />And your heart shall rejoice,<br />And your joy no man taketh from you. ''(John 16:22)''<br /><br /> |
| | + | Behold with your eyes,<br />How that I have but little labour,<br />And have gotten unto me much rest. ''(Sirach 51:27)''<br /><br /> |
| | + | As one whom his mother comforteth<br />So will I comfort you. ''(Isaiah 66:13a)'' |
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| | + | ===VI. Denn wir haben hie keine bleibende Statt=== |
| | + | For here we have no continuing city,<br />But we seek one to come. ''(Hebrews 13:14)''<br /><br /> |
| | + | Behold, I show you a mystery;<br />We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment,<br />In the twinkling of an eye,<br />At the last trump:<br />For the trumpet shall sound,<br />And the dead shall be raised incorruptible,<br />And we shall be changed.<br />Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,<br />Death is swallowed up in victory.<br />O death, where is thy sting?<br />O grave, where is thy victory? ''(I Corinthians 15:51, 52, 54b, 55)''<br /><br /> |
| | + | Thou art worthy, O Lord,<br />To receive glory and honour and power:<br />For thou hast created all things,<br />And for thy pleasure they are<br />And were created. ''(Revelations 4:11)'' |
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| | + | ===VII. Selig sind die Toten=== |
| | + | Blessed are the dead<br />Which die in the Lord from henceforth:<br />Yea, saith the Spirit,<br />That they may rest from their labours;<br />And their works do follow them. ''(Revelations 14:13b)'' |
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| | + | ==Notes== |
| | + | {{reflist}} |
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| | + | ==See also== |
| | + | *[[Requiem (music)]] |
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| | + | [[Category: Classical Works]] |