Brahms Requiem: A Subjective Interpretation (First Movement)

Words: Selig sind, die da Leid tragen, denn sie sollen getrostet werden. Die mit Tranen saen, werden mit Freuden ernten. Sie gehen hin und weinen und tragen edlen Samen, und kommen mit Freuden und bringen ihre Garben.

Translation: Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. They that go forth and weep, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them (Psalsm 84, 2f)


The first movement is sung in a fairly slow (Ziemlich langsam) and with expression (und mit Ausdruck) as Brahms intended it to be. After a short but soulful introduction, the choir makes its entrance with the words of "Selig sind" (Blesed are...) - in which the entire spirit of Requiem is built upon.

Composed beautifully in F major, the first movement starts with a tranquility that is both haunting and comforting. The use of short spurts of crescendos and dimuendoes accentuates the soul of the piece - as if Brahms was trying to articulate the paradox of "Blessedness'. How is one able to understand and appreciate the blessing of life when faced with the certainty of death. Such is the profound nature of our existence which Requiem attempts to explore. In my opinion, the slowness of this movement serves as a form or reflection, in which the audience is challenged to see themselves "under the audit of eternity" (to quote Kierkegaard) and to foreshadow the subsequent two movements which explore the frailty of mankind's existence.

Despite its melancholic sway, Brahms ensures that the piece is not reduced to all "doom and gloom". Once again, this is a foreshadow of the latter movements (especially the seventh movement) where the joy and hope of life is masterfully composed. Hence the transformation from "Die mit Tranen saen (They that sow in tears) to "werden mit Freuden ernten" (shall reap in joy). Its as if Brahms - despite the knowledge of death and the sadness the event brings about - recognizes a higher and richer existence that takes place within the realm of life, and thus his conclusion, with a series of triplets, which captures the vitality - no matter how faint - and certainty of the message that "life is better than death".