{"id":86168,"date":"2021-01-10T13:44:12","date_gmt":"2021-01-10T11:44:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=86168"},"modified":"2021-01-10T13:44:12","modified_gmt":"2021-01-10T11:44:12","slug":"one-of-the-most-sublime-choral-works-ever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/one-of-the-most-sublime-choral-works-ever\/","title":{"rendered":"One Of The Most Sublime Choral Works Ever"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) – \u201cHow lovely is Your dwelling-place,\u201d 4th movement from \u201cThe German Requiem,\u201d op. 45<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is a choral work, relatively simple and accessible to all, based on verses from Psalms, uplifting and joyful. It is an opportunity to open up to the beauty of Psalm 84, verses 2-3. The music is no less central, seeing that this psalm is part of one of the most sublime compositions for choir and orchestra ever written: The German Requiem by Johannes Brahms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brahms wrote it in the years 1865-66, while under the heavy influence of his mother\u2019s death, and perhaps also the influence of the death of his close friend, the composer Robert Schumann. Brahms chose not to work with the ancient liturgical texts which were part of the Mass of the Dead, but rather, he selected for himself texts from the Lutheran scripture, and constructed the libretto in German. Most of the selections are from the New Testament, but at least two of the movements are based on Psalms. This selection is the short 4th movement, the middle one of the seven of the work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The work overflows with beautiful melodies from beginning to end. The opening tune is derived from a motif comprised of three notes, which are somehow incorporated into each of the seven movements of the Requiem. The listener will notice that the orchestra\u2019s part includes a descending melody, while the choir is singing verse 2 in a contrasting way, that ascends the scale. The melodies are mirror images of one another. Notice that the word <\/span>zebaot<\/span><\/i> (\u05e6\u05d1\u05d0\u05d5\u05ea) is pronounced in German as it is in Hebrew.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Verse 3 appears about a minute and a half in, and infuses the work with excitement, and yearning for \u201ccourts of the LORD,\u201d while these moments resolve into a beautiful serenity with the words \u201cmy body and soul shout for joy to the living God.\u201d The opening verse, verse 2, returns, now to continue with the well-known words of verse 5 \u201cHappy are those who dwell in Your house; they forever praise You.Selah.\u201d This emotional development quickly ceases before the final return of verse 2, which sums up this charming choral work with infinite tenderness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Johannes Brahms, Ein deutsches Requiem –\u00a0<\/span>Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen, Herr Zebaoth, 2013<\/span><\/p>\n

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