Consortium, Andrew-John Smith - Brahms: Zigeunerlieder & Other Secular Choral Music (2009)

Tracklist

01. Lieder und Romanzen, Op. 93a: No. 1, Der bucklichte Fiedler
02. Lieder und Romanzen, Op. 93a: No. 2, Das Mädchen
03. Lieder und Romanzen, Op. 93a: No. 3, O süßer Mai
04. Lieder und Romanzen, Op. 93a: No. 4, Fahr wohl
05. Lieder und Romanzen, Op. 93a: No. 5, Der Falke
06. Lieder und Romanzen, Op. 93a: No. 6, Beherzigung
07. 3 Quartette, Op. 64: No. 1, An die Heimat
08. 3 Quartette, Op. 64: No. 2, Der Abend
09. 3 Quartette, Op. 64: No. 3, Fragen
10. 5 Gesänge, Op. 104: No. 1, Nachtwache I
11. 5 Gesänge, Op. 104: No. 2, Nachtwache II
12. 5 Gesänge, Op. 104: No. 3, Letztes Glück
13. 5 Gesänge, Op. 104: No. 4, Verlorne Jugend
14. 5 Gesänge, Op. 104: No. 5, Im Herbst
15. Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103 (Ensemble Version): No. 1, He, Zigeuner, greife in die Saiten ein!
16. Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103 (Ensemble Version): No. 2, Hochgetürmte Rimaflut
17. Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103 (Ensemble Version): No. 3, Wisst ihr, wann mein Kindchen
18. Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103 (Ensemble Version): No. 4, Lieber Gott, du weisst
19. Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103 (Ensemble Version): No. 5, Brauner Bursche führt zum Tanze
20. Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103 (Ensemble Version): No. 6, Röslein dreie in der Reihe
21. Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103 (Ensemble Version): No. 7, Kommt dir manchmal in den Sinn
22. Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103 (Ensemble Version): No. 8, Horch, der Wind klagt in den Zweigen
23. Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103 (Ensemble Version): No. 9, Weit und breit schaut niemand mich an
24. Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103 (Ensemble Version): No. 10, Mond verhüllt sein Angesicht
25. Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103 (Ensemble Version): No. 8, Rote Abendwolken ziehen
26. Dem dunkeln Schoss der heil'ger Erde, WoO 20

This charming disc presents a comprehensive selection of Brahms’s secular choral music. Through his professional activities, Brahms had a continuous interest in producing music for choirs, as well as profound insight into their capabilities. His impressive output of a cappella sacred choruses and motets makes learned and creative reference to such Baroque masters as Gabrieli, Schütz and Bach. Yet Brahms was equally adept in the traditions of the unaccompanied Romantic choral song, the Chorlied, following the lead of Schubert, Mendelssohn and Schumann, and adapting the form to his own characteristic ends. He also wrote a large number of vocal duets and quartets with piano accompaniment, including the popular Zigeunerlieder, which are testimony to his extraordinary fascination for gypsy music and its fertilizing effect on his style.

Selections from these secular forms are performed by the professional chamber choir Consortium, conducted by Andrew-John Smith, who will be familiar to Hyperion listeners from his acclaimed recording of Saint-Säens’ organ works.

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