Brahms: A German Requiem (1955) Kempe/Fischer-Dieskau/Grümmer

Johannes Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem Op. 45 (A German Requiem) 1. Selig sind, die da Leid tragen (00:08) 2. Denn alles Fleisch, es ist wie Gras (11:52) 3. Herr, lehre doch mich (27:39) 4. Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen (38:30) 5. Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit (43:48) 6. Denn wir haben hie keine bleibende Statt (52:02) 7. Selig sind die Toten (1:03:46) Elisabeth Grümmer, Soprano Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Baritone Rudolf Kempe, Conductor Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Chor der St. Hedwigs-Kathedrale Berlin Recorded June 23-30, 1955 At Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin Johannes Brahms tended to be reluctant to talk whenever the subject of personal inspiration for his music was raised. We do know that his mother died in 1865, which had a strong emotional effect on him, and that is also the year he began work on the Requiem. Composed between 1865 and 1868, “Ein deutsches Requiem“ was given its first premiere of the original six parts in Bremen Cathedral with Brahms conducting, on Good Friday, April 10, 1868. This turned out to be a major breakthrough in Brahms career, and was a great success. The work in its current form received its premiere in Leipzig on February 18, 1869 with the Gewandhaus Orchestra conducted by Carl Reinecke. Among its most remarkable historic attributes is the fact that Brahms created his own libretto for the Requiem in German using The Lutheran Bible as his source instead of the traditional custom of using Latin text. The work is not only his largest in scale and length, it is also seen as one of his greatest compositions. “Ein deutsches Requiem“ is one of the most popular choral works in the performing repertoire today. Since its issue in 1955, the Kempe recording has been a classic. With Grümmer and Fischer-Dieskau as soloists, it has enjoyed popularity as one the finest performances on record.