A German Requiem
Arrangement for chamber orchestra (arr. J. Linckelmann) op. 45, 1867/2010
Brahms conceived the original orchestral version of his Requiem for a choir with over 200 singers. Most performances of the work will be sung with far fewer singers, resulting in a clear imbalance between the larger orchestra and smaller choir.
The present arrangement for chamber orchestra minimizes this problem and so smaller choirs, as well as choirs with more limited resources of space or finance, can now perform this unsurpassed masterpiece too. Surely practiced instrumentalists or ensembles will be happy to participate in a performance of this chamber version of the Requiem.
- Major requiem can also be performed by smaller choir
- Wind and brass parts of the original version reduced to just five single instruments
- Vocal scores and chorus scores from the original version can be used.
- carus plus: the work (original version) is available in the carus music app, the Choir Coach, as well as in the Carus Choir Coach series (audio only).
Original Version | Arrangement for Chamber Orchestra |
Soli SB, Coro SATB, Picc, 2 Fl, 2 Ob, 2 Clt, 2 Fg, 4 Cor, 2 Tr, 3 Trb, Tb, 3 Timp, Arpa, 2 Vl, Va, Vc, Cb, [Org] | Soli SB, Coro SATB, Fl/Pic, Ob, Clt, Fg, Cor, Timp, 2 Vl, Va, Vc, Cb |
-
Composer
Johannes Brahms
| 1833-1897Johannes Brahms' study of musical tradition was of crucial importance to his output: he combined church modes, canonic technique, Baroque style and diction, Bach's counterpoint and Beethoven's thematic-motivic work with the harmonic and expressive achievements of Romanticism to form his own distinctive style. In this respect his choral songs and vocal quartets (e.g. the “Liebeslieder Waltzes” and “New Liebeslieder Waltzes”), often to folk song texts, in which a musical microcosm unfolds, are examplary. His “Deutsches Requiem”, available from Carus in several different versions, constitutes one of the most fascinating confessions of faith in the history of music. Personal details
-
Arranger
Joachim Linckelmann
Reviews
Linckelmann retains some elements of the original orchestration, he has altered or eliminated other elements, creating a new, fresh interpretation of this masterwork, while increasing its accessibility for smal ensembles. ... Linckelmann's arrangement of the Requiem represents a significant contribution to the choral-orchestral repertoire. ... Moreover, although some purists will admittedly lament the omission of brass, harp, and organ from any performance of the Requiem, one could convincingly argue that the priority, at times, in performing such significant pieces of music, is to allow as many musicians as possible an opportunity to experience this great masterwork.
Nathan Windt, Choral Journal, November 2011
Die Realisierung dieses grandiosen Meisterwerkes scheitert oftmals an den Kosten für das originale, großbesetzte Orchester. Die Fassung für Klavier zu vier Händen, von Brahms selbst erstellt, lässt (weil eben Klavier) eine orchestrale Dynamik und transparente Linearität bei romantischem Phrasenduktus kaum wirklich befriedigend darstellen. Insofern macht diese vorgelegte Bearbeitung großen Sinn. Laut Herausgeber sind Klavierauszug und Chorpartitur der Originalausgabe mit dieser Bearbeitung kompatibel.
Johannes Ebenbauer, Singende Kirche, Heft 2/2011