German Requiems Before Brahms

Johannes Brahms''s EIN DEUTSCHES REQUIEM has been a popular subject of study due to its organization subject matter and compositional mastery. While many have recognized obvious influence on subsequent composers and their works far fewer have investigated its philosophical and musical forbears. This book analyzes similarities between baroque music on the theme of death and individual movements of Brahms''s famous choral and orchestral masterwork. Well-documented and familiar composers such as Bach Schuetz and Telemann are highlighted alongside more obscure baroque kleinmeisters such as Bernhard Weckmann and Schwemmer. Figures compare musical content as well as textual correspondences.