Brahms Requiem - Some thoughts
I will be involved in the SSO-SSC upcoming performance of the German Requiem by Brahms in November. For those who are not familiar with this magisterial work by Brahms, Ein Deutsches Requiem is Johannes Brahms largest work and marked the entrance of the German composer into full maturity and international celebrity.
Over the past few months, I have had the marvellous privilege to partake in the practice of this piece, together with other singers from the Singapore Symphony Chorus, Hallelujah Oratorio Society and the Singapore Bible College Choir. All this meant extra choir sessions every Monday and Thursday (where necessary) under the watchful, yet enjoyable tutelage of the SSC's residential conductor Lim Yau .
I'll be posting a series of thoughts on this piece from today till our performance on Nov 13 as part of my reflection and preparation for the performance of this piece. As Beethoven once commented, "Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman"; this is particularly true of Requiem - the deeper one reflects on this work, the more profound - and moving - the work becomes.
I shall not elaborate too much on the historical context of this piece, most historical records suggest that Brahms wrote the Requiem following the death of his mother and the earlier the loss of his close friend, Robert Schumann. Despite the uncertainty over Brahms religious views, the material of the Requiem was taken from the Bible and seeks to explore the theme of life and death.
As such, much of what i am going to post over the next few weeks would be to explore Ein Deutsche Requiem within the context of the Christian faith and how this piece - despite the author's humanist leanings - remain a truly brilliant work, and a magnificent testimony to the Christian worldview and tradition.
Over the past few months, I have had the marvellous privilege to partake in the practice of this piece, together with other singers from the Singapore Symphony Chorus, Hallelujah Oratorio Society and the Singapore Bible College Choir. All this meant extra choir sessions every Monday and Thursday (where necessary) under the watchful, yet enjoyable tutelage of the SSC's residential conductor Lim Yau .
I'll be posting a series of thoughts on this piece from today till our performance on Nov 13 as part of my reflection and preparation for the performance of this piece. As Beethoven once commented, "Music should strike fire from the heart of man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman"; this is particularly true of Requiem - the deeper one reflects on this work, the more profound - and moving - the work becomes.
I shall not elaborate too much on the historical context of this piece, most historical records suggest that Brahms wrote the Requiem following the death of his mother and the earlier the loss of his close friend, Robert Schumann. Despite the uncertainty over Brahms religious views, the material of the Requiem was taken from the Bible and seeks to explore the theme of life and death.
As such, much of what i am going to post over the next few weeks would be to explore Ein Deutsche Requiem within the context of the Christian faith and how this piece - despite the author's humanist leanings - remain a truly brilliant work, and a magnificent testimony to the Christian worldview and tradition.
posted by Benjamin Ho at
4:15 AM
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