Brahms wrote a number of major works for orchestra, including two serenades, four symphonies, two piano concertos, a Violin Concerto, a Double Concerto for violin and cello, and a pair of orchestral overtures, the Academic Festival Overture and the Tragic Overture.
His large choral work Ein deutsches Requiem ("A German Requiem") is not a traditional, liturgical requiem (Missa pro defunctis), but a setting of texts which Brahms selected from the Lutheran Bible. The work was composed in three major periods of his life. An earlier version of the second movement was first composed in 1854, not long after Robert Schumann's attempted suicide, and was later finished and used in his first piano concerto. The majority of the Requiem was composed after his mother's death in 1865. The fifth movement was later added after the official premiere in 1868. The complete work was then published in 1869.
Brahms's works in variation form include the Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel and the Paganini Variations, both for solo piano, and the Variations on a Theme by Joseph Haydn in versions for two pianos and for orchestra. The final movement of the Fourth Symphony (Op. 98) is also formally a set of variations.
His chamber works include three string quartets, two string quintets and two string sextets, as well as a clarinet quintet, a clarinet trio, a horn trio, a piano quintet, three piano quartets and three piano trios. He composed several instrumental sonatas with piano, including three for violin, two for cello and two for clarinet (which were subsequently arranged for viola by the composer). His solo piano works range from his early piano sonatas and ballades to his late sets of character pieces. Brahms also wrote about 200 songs and is considered among the greatest of Lieder composers (with Schubert and Schumann). His chorale preludes for organ, which he wrote shortly before his death, have become an important part of the organist's repertoire.
Brahms never wrote an opera, nor did he ever write in the characteristic late-19th-century form of the tone poem, strongly preferring to compose absolute music that does not refer to an explicit scene or narrative.
Despite his reputation as a serious composer of large, complex musical designs, some of Brahms's most widely known and commercially successful compositions during his life were aimed at the thriving contemporary market for domestic music-making, and are small-scale and popular in intention. These included his arrangements of popular dances, in Hungarian Dances, the Waltzes Op. 39 for piano duet, the Liebeslieder Waltzes for vocal quartet and piano, and some of his many songs, notably the Wiegenlied, Op. 49 No 4 (published in 1868). This last item was written (to a folk text) to celebrate the birth of a son to Brahms's friend Bertha Faber, and is universally known as Brahms' Lullaby.
Wiegenlied
Johannes Brahms Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mit Rosen bedacht,
Mit Näglein besteckt,
Schlupf unter die Deck:
Morgen früh, wenn Gott will,
Wirst du wieder geweckt.
Guten Abend, gut' Nacht,
Die zeigen im Traum
Dir Christkindleins Baum.
Schlaf nun selig und süß,
Schau im Traum 's Paradies.
The lyrics of Johannes Brahms's song "Lullaby," also known as "Brahms' Lullaby," serve as a comforting bedtime message to children. The song portrays the peacefulness of night and the care that surrounds the child as they fall asleep. In the first stanza, the child is "bedecked with roses and little carnations" and tucked under the covers. The lullaby assures the child that they will wake up the next morning, as long as God wills it.
In the second stanza, the child is watched over and protected by angels who present them with the image of the Christmas tree in their dreams. The lullaby tells the child to rest sweetly and enter into paradise in their dreams. Brahms's composition not only aims to soothe children to sleep but also assures them of their safety and the love that surrounds them.
Line by Line Meaning
Guten Abend, gut' Nacht,
Good evening, good night,
Mit Rosen bedacht,
Covered with roses,
Mit Näglein besteckt,
Adorned with little nails,
Schlupf unter die Deck:
Slip under the covers:
Morgen früh, wenn Gott will,
Tomorrow morning, God willing,
Wirst du wieder geweckt.
You will be awakened again.
Von Englein bewacht,
Watched over by little angels,
Die zeigen im Traum
Who will show you in your dreams
Dir Christkindleins Baum.
The Christmas tree of the Christ Child.
Schlaf nun selig und süß,
Now sleep blissfully and sweetly,
Schau im Traum 's Paradies.
And in your dream, look at paradise.
Contributed by Riley M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mariakivetou5504
Guten Abend, gut' Nacht!
Mit Rosen bedacht,
Mit Näglein besteckt
Schlupf unter die Deck.
Morgen früh, wenn Gott will,
Wirst du wieder geweckt,
Morgen früh, wenn Gott will,
Wirst du wieder geweckt.
Guten Abend, gut' Nacht!
Von Englein bewacht,
Sie zeigen im Traum
Dir Christkindleins Baum.
Schlaf nun selig und süß,
Schau im Traum 's Paradies.
Schlaf nun selig und süß,
Schau im Traum 's Paradies.
@EricaCarolinneR
Guten Abend, gut' Nacht,
mit Rosen bedacht,
mit Näglein besteckt,
schlupf unter die Deck':
Morgen früh, wenn Gott will,
wirst du wieder geweckt.
Guten Abend, gut' Nacht,
von Englein bewacht,
die zeigen im Traum
dir Christkindleins Baum:
schlaf nun selig und süss,
schau im Traum 's Paradies.
@wolfgang4368x
Psalm 150 - alles, was atmet, lobe den Herrn!❤
@L4AH4N1889
Wow ! The best performance for this Wiegenlied I've ever heard ! 👏👏👏
@edblazek9422
Such an incredible singer. Absolutely incredible.
@grazynazamorska8767
Przepiękny głos 😍❤😍❤😍❤😍❤😍❤
@peterwulf8713
Was für eine traumhaft schöne Stimme und was für eine saubere Interpretation. Ein Hörgenuss.
@mariakivetou5504
Guten Abend, gut' Nacht!
Mit Rosen bedacht,
Mit Näglein besteckt
Schlupf unter die Deck.
Morgen früh, wenn Gott will,
Wirst du wieder geweckt,
Morgen früh, wenn Gott will,
Wirst du wieder geweckt.
Guten Abend, gut' Nacht!
Von Englein bewacht,
Sie zeigen im Traum
Dir Christkindleins Baum.
Schlaf nun selig und süß,
Schau im Traum 's Paradies.
Schlaf nun selig und süß,
Schau im Traum 's Paradies.
@jvzenorthmusic1712
très belle interprétation de cette berceuse qui a marqué mon enfance; merci
@DouweFeitsma
How beautiful. Even the pianiste plays well
@Blmovie
wow, goosebumps. Very Nice! Greetings from Germany!
@xilnes7166
I have had this saved and liked for so long ... seems like lot of people are discovering now. Youtube must have hidden it from ya'll. so safe to say its a hidden gem... 💎