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- Brahms, Johannes
- Weismann, Wilhelm
Duration: 17 minutes
Description: Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) prepared the Liebesliederwalzer, Suite from Opp. 52 & 65 (Composer’s Arrangement) between 1869 and 1874 by selecting and orchestrating nine of his favorite numbers from the immensely successful Liebeslieder-Walzer, Op. 52 (1869), and Neue Liebeslieder, Op. 65 (1874). Originally conceived as waltzes for vocal quartet and piano four hands, these settings of love poems by Georg Friedrich Daumer (adapted from Russian, Polish, Hungarian, Turkish, and other folk traditions) reflect the vibrant Viennese dance culture that surrounded Brahms after his move to Vienna while elevating the popular waltz into sophisticated concert music. In his orchestral arrangement, Brahms preserved the intimacy and charm of the original songs while enriching them with delicate orchestral color, creating a graceful sequence that bridges domestic music-making and the concert hall. Individual selections from the suite were first introduced in the early 1870s, while the complete orchestral set emerged only after the publication of Neue Liebeslieder. Today, Liebesliederwalzer, Suite from Opp. 52 & 65 (Composer’s Arrangement) is admired as a delightful companion to the original vocal collections and a testament to Brahms’s extraordinary gift for transforming simple dance forms into works of enduring elegance, wit, and lyrical warmth, maintaining a respected place in both orchestral and choral concert programming. Instrumentation: 2.2.2.2: 2.0.0.0: Str (4.4.3.3.3 in set): Mix Chorus. Reprint of the edition by Wilhelm Weismann.