Brahms: A German Requiem (New English Adaptation)

Nathan Gunn (Performer), Johannes Brahms (Composer), Craig D. Jessop (Conductor), Utah Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Janice Chandler (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Nathan Gunn, Janice Chandler
• Orchestra: Utah Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Craig D. Jessop
• Composer: Johannes Brahms
• Audio CD (October 26, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B000028TW5
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,657 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #32 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Early Music > Forms & Genres > Requiems
  • #39 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Early Music > Sacred & Religious
  • #41 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Requiems, Elegies & Tombeau > Requiems

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Precise, clear, magnificent, March 24, 2000

By 

James A. Thorson "James A. Thorson" (Omaha, NE USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Brahms: A German Requiem (New English Adaptation) (Audio CD)

This will be the definitive recording of Robert Shaw's English translation of the Brahms Requiem. Shaw's own Telarc recording of the Brahms (in German) has been criticized as magnificent but muddy. Craig Jessop's recording of the Brahms (in English) is magnificent and clear as a bell. Hearing it broadcast (as a tribute to Mr. Shaw), I immediately wrote Dr. Jessop a letter of congratulations and went on-line to purchase a copy of this album from Amazon.com. Craig Jessop sang with Mr. Shaw for many years (indeed, he appears in many of the recordings made by the Robert Shaw Festival Chorus). He leared all of Shaw's techniques. One of the best is to have the chorus "count" out the rhythm (over and over again) during rehearsals. He did this when he conducted a March, 1996, presentation of the Brahms Requiem done by the Omaha Symphonic Chorus and Omaha Symphony. I told him afterwards that he got from us the best that we had to give. He has now done this with a considerably bigger chorus; the precision of the singing is astounding; this recording is evidence of the genius of his conducting. It is absolutely clear, pure to the music of the master, sensitive, and powerful. The Utah Symphony's work is admirable. I would urge those who are hesitant to listen to an English version of a work that is so familiar in German to experience this album.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great work...A great recording, November 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Brahms: A German Requiem (New English Adaptation) (Audio CD)

If you can get over hearing this work sung in English (some people find it unfitting for a German Requiem to be sung in English), then you'll find that this recording is indeed a treasure. Some major highlights for me are: the sound (Telarc rarely lets you down on sound), the wonderful job done by the timpani player, and finally, the clear diction of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The Utah Symphony does a wonderful job as a whole playing this work.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Transcendent Work, August 8, 2001

By 

R. Cundick (Salt Lake City, UT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Brahms: A German Requiem (New English Adaptation) (Audio CD)

I participated in this recording as a singer in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It was a tremendously moving experience, made even more poignant by the recent death of Robert Shaw, who was to have directed it. Conductor Craig Jessop was very close to Mr. Shaw, and his own father also passed away within days of Shaw.

All of this multiplied the impact of Brahms beautiful Requiem in our hearts, for it was for this very purpose -- to comfort those who have lost a loved one -- that it was written. This was one of those times in life when I have felt very close to Heaven, and I hope that comes across to other listeners. I would recommend this recording especially to anyone who mourns. Hearing it in English is an advantage for those who do not understand German, because the text magnifies the compassion and hope of the music.

I am a little bit puzzled by the person who was disappointed in the diction. Of course, clear diction is very difficult for a Choir of over 300 voices, but we worked very hard on it. To my ear the text is easily understood, though I will admit it may be because I am so familiar with it. Still, I want to point out that TelArcs Recording Engineers actually asked us to back off on our diction -- they felt we were overdoing it and it interfered with the beauty of the music. If you have difficulty discerning the text, I recommend you take out the CD insert and read along.