Nacht und Träume. Transcriptions by Clytus Gottwald. Johannes Brahms – Peter Cornelius – Edvard Grieg – Franz Schubert – Clara Schumann
11/14/2025, 16 Tracks, 51:15
Featuring
Frieder Bernius
Franziska Bobe
Julia Lautenbacher
Raoul Bumiller
Hans Porten
Tobias Ripplinger
Sigrun Bornträger
Lucia Boisserée
Leonie Volle
Kammerchor Stuttgart
Franz Schubert
Clara Schumann
Edvard Grieg
Peter Cornelius
Johannes Brahms
Did you know?
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Composition History
Clara Schumann's song "Es fiel ein Reif" was one of three songs she gave her husband Robert as a Christmas present in 1840, shortly after their marriage, during a period when Robert was composing prolifically.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Clytus Gottwald criticized Romantic and Impressionist composers for whom 'all sources of inspiration dried up at the thought of a cappella choir,' seeking to apply modern compositional techniques to vocal settings.
Recording & Production
This album features transcriptions by Clytus Gottwald, a composer and conductor who passed away in 2023, and is released to commemorate what would have been his 100th birthday in 2025.
Notable Performances
Clytus Gottwald's Schola Cantorum Stuttgart was involved in about 80 world premieres of contemporary choral music, including György Ligeti's famous Lux aeterna, which was dedicated to Gottwald and his ensemble.
Performer Biography
Frieder Bernius, the conductor of the Kammerchor Stuttgart, founded the ensemble in 1968 and has led it to international acclaim, with over 50 record awards for its 125 recordings.
Compositional Technique
Gottwald's transcriptions often individualize accompanying choral parts, using techniques like new text underlays or polyphonic textures, rather than simply dissolving piano accompaniments into sustained vocalizations.
Interpretation
Clytus Gottwald, whose transcriptions are featured, viewed transcription as an independent art form that reflects the original work, rather than a mere reproduction.
