Brahms - Geistliches Wiegenlied, Op. 91 No. 2

"Geistliches Wiegenlied" is the second song from Brahms Op. 91, two songs for alto, viola and piano. See my earlier video of the first song "Gestillte Sehnsucht".

The original version of the poem is by the Spanish Renaissance poet, Lope de Vega, and was adapted into German by Emanuel von Geibel. In setting this poem, Brahms chose a very novel approach. He actually created a song setting of two poems, in dialogue with one another. Geibels poem is sung by the alto while the viola sings an old folk melody that is very familiar. It is the Christmas carol, "Josef lieber Josef mein". The melody of this carol is played on the viola; the words are never heard. This song might seem on first hearing to be simply a lullaby for the baby Jesus. However, by the third stanza there is a change in mood and text that brings a different meaning to light. It is no longer the infant Jesus but rather the crucified Christ who is referred to and the sleep is the sleep that is beyond all care.




Geistliches Wiegenlied

Die ihr schwebet
Um diese Palmen
In Nacht und Wind,
Ihr heilgen Engel,
Stillet die Wipfel!
Es schlummert mein Kind.

Ihr Palmen von Bethlehem
Im Windesbrausen,
Wie mögt ihr heute
So zornig sausen!
O rauscht nicht also!
Schweiget, neiget
Euch leis und lind;
Stillet die Wipfel!
Es schlummert mein Kind.

Der Himmelsknabe
Duldet Beschwerde,
Ach, wie so müd er ward
Vom Leid der Erde.
Ach nun im Schlaf ihm
Leise gesänftigt
Die Qual zerrinnt,
Stillet die Wipfel!
Es schlummert mein Kind.

Grimmige Kälte
Sauset hernieder,
Womit nur deck ich
Des Kindleins Glieder!
O all ihr Engel,
Die ihr geflügelt
Wandelt im Wind,
Stillet die Wipfel!
Es schlummert mein kind.

Emanuel von Geibel (after Lope de Vega)




Spiritual Lullaby

You who float
About these palm trees
In the wind at night,
You holy angels,
Hush the treetops!
My child is asleep.

You palms of Bethlehem,
In the rushing wind
How can you today
Swish so angrily?
O do not rustle like that!
Be quiet, lean
Down softly and gently;
Hush your treetops!
My child is asleep.

The heavenly boy
Has to endure hardship;
Ah! How weary he was
With the sorrow of earth.
Ah, now in sleep he
Is gently consoled,
His pain dissolves.
Hush those treetops.
My child is asleep.

Grim cold
Blows upon us;
With what shall I cover
The babys limbs?
O all you angels
Who on your wings
Wander in the wind,
Hush the treetops!
My child is asleep.

English translation by William Mann


Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano)
Cecil Aronowitz (viola)
Andre Previn (piano)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• classical
• Lieder
• Johannes
• Brahms
• Geistliches
• Wiegenlied
• Janet
• Baker
• Christmas

[donadieu83]

My memory may be fading but its tune is somewhat of a medieval melody that I remember

[FiDiTanzer528]

@donadieu83

Not sure of a medieval melody but the tune in the viola part is the Christmas Carol "Josef lieber, Josef mein".

[alvezmusic]

you should also check out "Maria Wiegenlied" by Max Reger. It is based on the same tune.

[FiDiTanzer528]

Thanks! I checked out the several recordings of the Reger on YT. Beautiful! Yes, he does also use the carol "Josef lieber, Josef mein" in the accompaniment, just like Brahms.

[MadeleineMezzo]

Thank you so much for this wonderful version, I LOVE Janet Baker!!

These are Opus 91 by the way, be sure to change that info because they don't always pop up when I'm looking for them and I think that may be why... they aren't listed with the other Opus 91s =)

[FiDiTanzer528]

I hope you found my other video of "Gestillte Sehnsucht" with Dame Janet. Glorious!

[Myau76]

I'd like to cut the fingers that clicked on Do Not Like

[harryslide]

What a lovely montage of paintings to accompany the touching music.

Very intelligent. Great recording.

Thanks!

[thunderblue22]

Love this recording! Absolutely gorgeous! I used it as my inspiration for performing Op. 91 & 92 for my senior recital in college.

[FiDiTanzer528]

Oh, my. Thanks for pointing that out. Just a typo. I do have it as Op. 91 in the video. I will make that correction right now. Glad you enjoyed it. I love Janet Baker too.