A German Requiem (Ein Deutsches Requiem)

About

A German Requiem, To Words of the Holy Scriptures (often truncated to just A German Requiem) is a monumental work for chorus, orchestra and soloists composed by Johannes Brahms between 1865 and 1868. Like many similar works written before and after Brahms, A German Requiem is based upon the Latin Requiem Mass, which has been a source of inspiration for both church-affiliated and secular composers for centuries. However, unlike a majority of requiems wherein the words are sung in Latin, Brahms chose to deviate from the traditional linguistic standard by employing the vernacular, which in this case was German, instead of Latin. The work was composed during a particularly grievous period in Brahms' life, and in addition to being considered by many to be the composer's magnum opus, it also stands as one of his most emotionally powerful works.