Day 345: Choral Music V

BrahmsCD39Okay. Enough is enough.

Here it is CD five – count ’em, FIVE! – of choral music. I don’t recall listening to this many CDs in a row of another genre of music from Brahms.

Brahms seems to have written more choral music that any other kind.

Is that possible? Did Brahms have an affinity (bordering on fetish) for choral music?

To my ears, he sounds quite accomplished in that realm.

I just don’t happen to appreciate that realm.

The compositions:

Deutsche Volklieder Wo034

Deutsche Volkslieder Wo035

Ave Maria Op. 12

Psalm 13 “Herr, wie lange”

The performers:

Amadeus-Chor
Chamber Choir of Europe
Jens Wollenschlager organ
Nicol Matt conductor

Day 341: Choral Music I

BrahmsCD35I had high hopes for today’s CD.

It begins with stirring music that quickly segues into a choir singing Hallelujah, which – now that I know Brahms was, essentially, an atheist – didn’t move me much. A composition like this indicates he was just pandering to the masses.

The sell out.

Anyway, the music and singing left me rather cold.

And I really gave it the ol’ college try. I had this CD on repeat for 3-4 hours, listening to it in its entirety multiple times. It didn’t grow on me.

Compositions:

Triumphlied Op. 44 for 8-part chorus & orchestra

The first movement of this piece ended on a very triumphant note. It was stirred. Overall, I enjoyed this composition more than the others. it just seemed more gregarious than other Brahms stuff I’ve heard to date.

Ave Maria Op. 12 for female chorus & orchestra

Kind of a snooze fest.

Schicksalslied Op. 54 for female chorus & orchestra

Another snooze fest.

Nanie Op. 82

Love the ending. Poignant.

Performers:

Bo Skovhus baritone
Danish national Choir/DR
Danish National Symphony Orchestra
Gerd Albrecht conductor

Composition:

Begrabnisgesang Op. 13 for 5-part chorus, wind instruments & timpani

Performers:

Dresdner Philharmonie Choir & Orchestra
Ernst Senff Chor Berlin
Michel Plasson conductor