Brahms composed "Nänie" as a dedication to Henriette Feuerbach, whose son, the painter Anselm Feuerbach, was a highly admired friend of Brahms and had died in 1880.
Performer Biography
The Eric Ericson Chamber Choir, founded in 1945, is known for its wide repertoire, ranging from early music to contemporary works, and its "Nordic" sound and consistent virtuosity.
Performer Biography
Jaime Martín, the conductor on this album, had a prominent career as a flautist before gaining international acclaim as a conductor.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in Gävle Konserthuset (Gävle Concert Hall), Sweden, in February 2017.
Composition History
Brahms's "Song of Destiny" (Schicksalslied) was inspired by Friedrich Hölderlin's poem of the same name, which Brahms discovered in a bookcase during a summer visit in 1868.
Compositional Technique
The original version of Brahms's "Begräbnisgesang" (Funeral Song) included low strings, but he later revised it to feature only wind instruments, intending it to be performed graveside.
Composition History
The "Liebeslieder-Walzer" were originally composed for vocal quartet and piano four hands, but Brahms later orchestrated them for voice and orchestra at the request of his friend, composer Ernst Rudorff.
