In his lifetime, brahmss popularity and influence were considerable. This compilation opens up a revealing crosssection of both brahms as a composer and of great lieder performances between 1975 and 1983. It was written in 1869, as a wedding gift for robert and clara schumanns daughter, julie. Brahms was in his mid30s when he composed the alto rhapsody. Born in hamburg, brahms spent much of his professional life in vienna, austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene. Marian anderson fritz reiner, rca victor symphony orchestra, robert shaw chorale of mens voices, robert shaw the san francisco symphony orchestra, pierre monteux. Towards the end of the 1860s, brahms was lodging with the schumann family and began to realise a growing affection for. But for four symphonies, four concertos, and a number of choral works with orchestra, it is really surprising how few miscellaneous orchestral items brahmss catalog contains. I was told all my life that these were two of the most beautiful works. His reputation and status as a composer are such that he is sometimes grouped with johann sebastian bach and ludwig van beethoven as one of the three bs. The german requiem is the most consoling and optimistic. Rhapsodies, for voice, male chorus, orchestra, scores featuring the voice, scores featuring the alto voice, scores featuring the orchestra, scores featuring male chorus, for voices and chorus with orchestra, german language collection imslp.
Forced to abandon his undeclared love upon her engagement to another man, brahms sublimated his grief in this work for alto, male chorus, and orchestra. A facsimile of the original manuscript of brahmss great work for contralto, mens chorus, and orchestra, with an introduction documenting its place in the composers life and work. If you use and like, thank you to consider support donation. See especially the introductory commentary in walter frisch, introduction to. The alto rhapsody portrays a disgruntled social outcast, but resolves into a sublime prayer. The work is somewhat autobiographical, for the inveterate bachelor brahms, despite his deep admiration for women, was never able to form a lasting relationship. Brahms, norman, muti symphony 3 alto rhapsody amazon. Find composition details, parts movement information and albums that contain performances of rhapsody for piano in b minor, op. Robert schumann had been an early and important supporter of the young brahms and the schumanns served as a kind of surrogate family to him.
Alto rhapsody johannes brahms 18331897 brahms alto rhapsody opus 53 was written in 1869, and was presented to clara schumann on the day of her. This article presents two new hypotheses about brahms s alto rhapsody, op. Consulting a range of nineteenthcentury sources, i explore the implications of rhapsody as a genre for this composition and argue that they include the classical convention of rhapsody as a poetic cento, or stoppelgedicht. Kathleen ferrier sings rhapsody for contralto, male chorus and orchestra, op 53 by johannes brahms london philharmonic choir london philharmonic orchestra clemens krauss, conductor 18.
Brahms had recently utilized a mens choir to great effect in the cantata rinaldo. The first impression is of the breadth of resonance in the orchestral playing of the alto rhapsody. Alto rhapsody johannes brahms 1833 1897 brahms s passion for robert schumanns wife, clara, formed for a long time a central part in his life and music. A night of brahms program notes toronto mendelssohn.
April 3, 1897, german composer and pianist, was one of the leading musicians of the romantic period. The first half of my title refers to a wonderful piece of music. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. Mens voices alto piano accompaniment sheet music book by johannes brahms 18331897.
Over 550 are included, virtually all uncut, and there are over a dozen published here for the first time in any language. Her brahms singing on that occasion marked her out as an important interpreter of his music, an impression confirmed by her proms performance of the alto rhapsody, one of his greatest works, though the unusual forces required a male chorus in addition to alto and orchestra have made it something of a rarity. Alto rhapsody johannes brahms 1833 1897 brahmss passion for robert schumanns wife, clara, formed for a long time a central part in his life and music. This book is the first comprehensive collection of the letters of johannes brahms ever to appear in english. Some of these are for solo voices and chorus with orchestra. The alto rhapsody is one of brahms most moving and successful works composed at a time when he seemed to have felt embittered and angry over the engagement and marriage of julie schumann the second eldest. I even learned that brahms wrote the alto rhapsody for the greatest contralto of his day. For 20 years we provide a free and legal service for free sheet music without asking you anything in exchange. This article presents two new hypotheses about brahmss alto rhapsody, op. Shortly after completing the work, brahms showed it to. Johannes brahms free sheet music to download in pdf, mp3.
Brahms beethoven mozart performed march 26, 2000 the alto rhapsody is intimately tied to brahms complicated relationship with the schumann family. A variation of this threemeasure melodic fragment appears in the alto line from measures 101 to 103. This allbrahms programme deals with the theme of fate or destiny, a theme that fascinated brahms through most of his career, ranging from desolation and isolation to resignation and acceptance. Born in hamburg into a lutheran family, brahms spent much of his professional life in vienna.
The alto rhapsody and its expressive double christopher reynolds for donald c. Strangely, after schumanns death in 1856, this passion cooled. Clemens krauss directs a lively academic festival overture, while kathleen ferriers alto rhapsody is atrocious, richly justifying her claim to being the most overrated singer in recorded history. Such a short piece, that requires such an unconventional combination of performers, is impractical. Although he corresponded throughout his life with some of the great performers, composers, musicologists, writers, scientists, and artists of the day, and although. Johannes brahms, altrhapsodie alto rhapsody for alto solo, male chorus, and orchestra, opus 53 1869 regrettably, this masterpiece is rarely performed. Provided to youtube by universal music group brahms. Order from your preferred classical music cd store arkivmusic.
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