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Brahms: Lieder [Box Set]

Brahms: Lieder [Box Set]
From Brilliant Classics

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Track Listing

Disc 1:

  1. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 3: No. 2. Liebe und Fr�hling I ("Wie sich Rebenranken schwingen")
  2. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 3: No. 3. Liebe und Fr�hling II ("Ich mu� hinaus, ich mu� zu dir")
  3. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 3: No. 5. In der Fremde ("Aus der Heimat hinter des Blitzen rot")
  4. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 3: No. 6. Lied ("Lindes Rauschen in den Wipfeln")
  5. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 6: No. 6. Nachtigallen schwingen ("Nachtigallen schwingen lustig")
  6. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 7: No. 2. Parole ("Sie stand wohl am Fensterbogen")
  7. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 7: No. 3. Ankl�nge ("Hoch �ber stillen H�hen")
  8. Poems (5) for voice & piano, Op. 19: No. 1. Der Ku� ("Unter Bl�ten des Mai's spielt' ich mit ihrer Hand")
  9. Poems (5) for voice & piano, Op. 19: No. 3. In der Ferne ("Will ruhen unter den B�umen hier")
  10. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 32: No. 1. Wie rafft' ich mich auf in der Nacht ("Wie rafft' ich mich auf in der Nacht")
  11. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 32: No. 2. Nicht mehr zu dir zu gehen ("Nicht mir zu dir zu gehen")
  12. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 32: No. 3. Ich schleich' umher ("Ich schleich' umher betr�bt und stumm")
  13. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 32: No. 4. Der Strom, der neben mir verrauschte ("Der Strom, der neben mir verrauschte")
  14. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 32: No. 5. Wehe, so willst du mich wieder ("Wehe, so willst du mich wieder")
  15. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 32: No. 6. Du sprichst, da� ich mich t�uschte ("Du sprichst, da� ich mich t�uschte")
  16. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 32: No. 7. Bitteres zu sagen denkst du ("Betteres zu sagen denkst du")
  17. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 32: No. 8. So stehn wir, ich und meine Wiede ("Wo stehn wir, ich und meine")
  18. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 32: No. 9. Wie bist du, meine K�nigin ("Wie bist du, meine K�nigin")
  19. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 3: No. 4. Lied ("Weit �ber das Feld durch die L�fte hoch")
  20. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 6: No. 2. Der Fr�hling ("Es lockt und s�uselt um den Baum")
  21. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 6: No. 3. Nachwirkung ("Sie est gegangen, die Wonnen versanken")
  22. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 6: No. 4. Juchhe! ("Wie ist doch die Erde so sch�n!")
  23. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 6: No. 5. Wie die Wolke nach der Sonne ("Wie die Wolke")
  24. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 7: No. 1. Treue Liebe ("Ein M�gdlein sa� am Meeresstrand")
  25. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 7: No. 4. Volkslied ("Die Schw�lble ziehet fort")
  26. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 7: No. 6. Heimkehr ("O brich nicht, Steg")
  27. Songs and romances (8) for voice & piano, Op. 14: No. 1. Vor dem Fenster ("Soll sich der Mond nicht heller scheinen")
  28. Songs and romances (8) for voice & piano, Op. 14: No. 2. Vom verwundeten Knaben ("Es wollt' ein M�dchen fr�h aufstehn")
  29. Songs and romances (8) for voice & piano, Op. 14: No. 3. Murrays Ermordung ("O Hochland und o S�dland!")
  30. Songs and romances (8) for voice & piano, Op. 14: No. 4. Sonett ("Ach, k�nnt' ich, k�nnte vergessen sie")

Disc 2:

  1. Songs and romances (8) for voice & piano, Op. 14: No. 5. Trennung ("Wach auf, wach auf, du junger Gesell")
  2. Songs and romances (8) for voice & piano, Op. 14: No. 6. Gang zur Liebsten ("Des Abends kann ich nicht schlafen gehn")
  3. Songs and romances (8) for voice & piano, Op. 14: No. 7. St�ndchen ("Gut Nacht, gut Nacht, mein liebster Schatz")
  4. Songs and romances (8) for voice & piano, Op. 14: No. 8. Sehnsucht ("Mein Schatz ist nicht da")
  5. Poems (5) for voice & piano, Op. 19: No. 2. Scheiden und Meiden ("So soll ich dich nun meiden")
  6. Poems (5) for voice & piano, Op. 19: No. 5. An eine �olsharfe ("Angelehnt an die Efeuwand")
  7. Songs (4) for voice & piano, Op. 43: No. 1. Von ewiger Liebe ("Dunkel, wie dunkel in Wald und in Feld!")
  8. Songs (4) for voice & piano, Op. 43: No. 2. Die Mainacht ("Wann der silberne Mond durch die Gestr�uche blinkt")
  9. Songs (4) for voice & piano, Op. 43: No. 3. Ich schell' mein Horn ins ("Ich schell' mein Horn ins Jammertal")
  10. Songs (4) for voice & piano, Op. 46: No. 1. Die Kr�nze ("hier ob dem Eingang seid befestiget")
  11. Songs (4) for voice & piano, Op. 46: No. 2. Magyarisch ("Sah dem edlen Bildnis allzu s��en Wunderschein")
  12. Songs (4) for voice & piano, Op. 46: No. 3. Die Schale der Vergessenheit ("Eine Schale des Stroms, welcher Vergessenheit")
  13. Songs (4) for voice & piano, Op. 46: No. 4. An die Nachtigall ("Geu� nicht so laut der liebentflammten Lieder")
  14. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 47: No. 1. Botschaft ("Wehe, L�ftchen, lind und lieblich")
  15. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 47: No. 2. Liebesglut ("Die Flamme hier, die wilde, zu verhehlen")
  16. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 47: No. 3. Sonntag ("So hab' ich doch die ganze Woche")
  17. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 47: No. 4. O liebliche Wangen ("O liebliche Wangen, ihr macht mir Verlangen")
  18. Songs (7) for voice & piano, Op. 48: No. 1. Der Gang zum Liebchen ("Es gl�nzt der Mond nieder")
  19. Songs (7) for voice & piano, Op. 48: No. 2. Der �berl�ufer ("In den Garten wollen wir gehen aus Des Knaben Wunderhorn")
  20. Songs (7) for voice & piano, Op. 48: No. 5. Trost in Tr�nen ("Wie kommt's da� du so traurig bist")
  21. Songs (7) for voice & piano, Op. 48: No. 6. Vergangen ist mir Gl�ck und Heil ("Vergangen ist mir Gl�ck und Heil")
  22. Songs (7) for voice & piano, Op. 48: No. 7. Herbstgef�hl ("Wie wenn im frost'gen Windhauch t�dlich")
  23. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 49: No. 1. Am Sonntag Morgen ("Am Sonntag Morgen, zierlich angetan")
  24. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 49: No. 2. An ein Veilchen ("Birg, o Veilchen")
  25. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 49: No. 3. Sehnsucht ("Hinter jenen dichten W�ldern")
  26. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 49: No. 4. Wiegenlied ("Guten Abend, gut' Nacht")
  27. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 49: No. 5. Abendd�mmerung ("Sei willkommen, Zwielichtstunde!")

Disc 3:

  1. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 57: No. 2 Wenn du nur zuwellen l�chelst ("Wenn du nur zuwellen l�chelst")
  2. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 57: No. 3. Es tr�umte mir ("Es tr�umte mir")
  3. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 57: No. 4. Ach, wende diesen Blick ("Ach wende diesen Blick, wende dies Angesicht")
  4. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 57: No. 5. In meiner N�chte Sehnen ("In meiner N�chte Sehnen, so tief allein")
  5. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 57: No. 6. Strahit zuweilen auch ein mildes Licht ("Strahlt zuweilen")
  6. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 57: No. 7. Die Schnur, die Perl' and Perle ("die Schnur, die Perl' and Perle")
  7. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 57: No. 8. Unbewegte, laue Luft ("Unbewegte, laue Luft")
  8. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 58: No. 1. Blindekuh ("Im Finstern geh'ich suchen")
  9. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 58: No. 2. W�hrend des Regens ("Voller, dichter tropft ums Dach da")
  10. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 58: No. 3. Die Spr�de ("Ich sah eine Tigrin im dunklen Haine")
  11. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 58: No. 4. O komme, holde Sommernacht ("O komme, hold Sommernacht")
  12. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 58: No. 5. Schwermut ("Mir ist so weh ums Herz")
  13. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 58: No. 6. In der Gasse ("Ich blicke hinab in die Gasse")
  14. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 58: No. 7. Vor�ber ("Ich legte mich unter den Lindenbaum")
  15. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 58: No. 8. Serenade ("Leise, um dich nicht zu wecken")
  16. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 59: No. 1. D�mmrung senkte sich von oben ("D�mmrung senkte sich von oben")
  17. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 59: No. 2. Auf dem See ("Blauer Himmel, blaue Wogen")
  18. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 59: No. 3. Regenlied ("Walle Regen, walle nieder")
  19. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 59: No. 4. Nachklang ("Regentropfen aus den B�umen")
  20. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 59: No. 6. Ein gute, gute Nacht ("Ein gute, gute Nacht")
  21. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 59: No. 7. Mein wundes Herz ("Mein wundes Herz")
  22. Songs (8) for voice & piano, Op. 59: No. 8. Dein blaues Auge ("Dein blaues Auge h�lt so still")
  23. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 63: No. 1. Fr�linstrost ("Es weht um mich Narzissenduft")
  24. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 63: No. 2. Erinnerung ("Ihr wundersch�nen Augenblicke")
  25. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 63: No. 3. An ein Bild ("Was schaust du mich so freundlich an")
  26. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 63: No. 4. An die Tauben ("Fliegt nu raus, geliebte Tauben!")
  27. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 63: No. 5. Junge Lieder I ("Meine Liebe ist gr�n wie der Fliederbusch")
  28. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 63: No. 6. Junge Lieder II ("Wenn um den Hollunder der Abendwind kost")
  29. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 63: No. 7. Heimweh I ("Wie traulich war das Fleckchen")
  30. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 63: No. 8. Heimweh II ("O w��t ich doch den Weg zur�ck")
  31. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 63: No. 9. Heimweh III ("Ich sah als Knabe Blumen bl�hn")
  32. Songs (7) for voice & piano, Op. 95: No. 3. Beim Abschied ("Ich m�h' mich ab und kann's nicht verschmerzen")
  33. Songs (4) for voice & piano, Op. 96: No. 3. Es schauen die Blumen ("Es schauen die Blumen")

Disc 4:

  1. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 97: No. 1. Nachtigall ("Nachtigall, dein s��er Schall")
  2. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 97: No. 2. Auf dem Schiffe ("Ein V�gelein fliegt �ber den Rhein")
  3. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 97: No. 3. Entf�hrung ("O Lady, Judith, spr�der Schatz")
  4. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 97: No. 5. Komm bald ("Warum denn warten von Tag zu Tag?")
  5. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 97: No. 6. Trennung ("Da unten im Tale")
  6. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 105: No. 1. Wie Melodien zieht es mir ("Wie Melodien zieht es")
  7. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 105: No. 3. Klage ("Fein's Liebchen, trau' du nicht")
  8. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 105: No. 4. Auf dem Kirchhofe ("Der Tage ging regenschwer und sturmbewegt")
  9. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 105: No. 5. Verrat ("Ich stand in einer lauen Nacht")
  10. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 106: No. 1. St�ndchen ("Der Mond steht �ber dem Berge")
  11. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 106: No. 2. Auf dem See ("An dies Schifflein schmiege")
  12. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 106: No. 3. Es hing der Reif ("Es hing der Reif im Lindenbaum")
  13. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 106: No. 4. Meine Lieder ("Wenn mein Herz beginnt zu klingen")
  14. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 106: No. 5. Ein Wanderer ("Hier, wo sich die Stra�en scheiden")
  15. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 107: No. 1. An die Stolze ("Und gleichwohl kan ich anders nicht")
  16. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 107: No. 2. Salamander ("Es sa� ein Salamander")
  17. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 107: No. 4. Maienk�tzchen ("Maienk�tzchen, erster Gru�")
  18. Mondnacht ('Es war als h�tt der Himmel'), song for voice & piano, WoO 21: No. 4. Mondnacht ("Es war, als h�tt' der Himmel")
  19. Vier ernste Ges�nge (4), for voice & piano (Four Serious Songs), Op. 121: No. 1. Denn es gehet dem Menschen wie dem Vieh
  20. Vier ernste Ges�nge (4), for voice & piano (Four Serious Songs), Op. 121: No. 2. Ich wandte mich und sahe an
  21. Vier ernste Ges�nge (4), for voice & piano (Four Serious Songs), Op. 121: No. 3. O Tod, wie bitter bist du
  22. Vier ernste Ges�nge (4), for voice & piano (Four Serious Songs), Op. 121: No. 4. Wenn ich mit Menschen und mit Engelszungen redete
  23. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 69: No. 3. Abschied ("Ach, mich h�lt der Gram gefangen")
  24. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 69: No. 5. Tambourliedchen ("Den Wirbel schlag' ich gar so strak")
  25. Songs (9) for voice & piano, Op. 69: No. 7. �ber die See ("�ber die See, fern �ber die See")
  26. Songs (4) for voice & piano, Op. 70: No. 1. Im Garten ("Im Garten am Seegestade")
  27. Songs (4) for voice & piano, Op. 70: No. 2. Lerchengesang ("�therische ferne Stimmen")
  28. Songs (4) for voice & piano, Op. 70: No. 3. Serenade ("Liebliches Kind")
  29. Songs (4) for voice & piano, Op. 70: No. 4. Abendregen ("Langsam und schimmernd fiel ein Regen")
  30. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 71: No. 1. Es liebt sich so lieblich im Lenze ("Die Wellen blinken und flie�en dahin")
  31. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 71: No. 2. An den Mond ("Silbermond mit bleichen Strahlen")

Disc 5:

  1. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 71: No. 3. Geheimnis ("O Fr�hlings-Abendd�mmerung!")
  2. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 71: No. 4. Willst du, da� ich geh'? ("Auf der Heide weht der Wind")
  3. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 71: No. 5. Minnelied ("Holder klingt der Vogelsang")
  4. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 72: No. 1. Alte Liebe ("Es kehrt die dunkle Schwalbe")
  5. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 72: No. 2. Sommerf�den ("Sommerf�den hin und wieder")
  6. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 72: No. 3. O k�hler Wald ("O k�hler Wald, wo rauschest du")
  7. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 72: No. 4. Verzagen ("Ich sitz' am Strande der rauschenden See")
  8. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 72: No. 6. Un�berwindlich ("Hab' ich tausendmal geschworen")
  9. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 85: No. 1. Sommerabend ("D�mmernd liegt der Sommerabend")
  10. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 85: No. 2. Mondenschein ("Nacht liegt auf den fremden Wegen")
  11. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 85: No. 4. Ade! ("Wie schienen die Sternlein so hell, so hell")
  12. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 85: No. 5. Fr�hlingslied ("Mit geheimnisvollen D�ften")
  13. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 85: No. 6. In Waldeseinsamkeit ("Ich sa� zu deinen F��en")
  14. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 86: No. 1. Therese ("Du milchjunger Knabe, wie schaust du mich an?")
  15. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 86: No. 2. Feldeinsamkeit ("Ich ruhe still im hohen gr�nen Gras")
  16. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 86: No. 3. Nachtwandler ("St�re nicht den liesen Schlummer")
  17. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 86: No. 4. �ber die Heide ("�ber die Heide hellet mein Schritt")
  18. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 86: No. 5. Versunken ("Es brausen der Liebe Wogen")
  19. Songs (6) for voice & piano, Op. 86: No. 6. Todessehnen ("Ach, wer nimmt von meiner Seele")
  20. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 94: No. 1. Mit vierzig Jahren ("Mit vierzig Jahren ist der Berg erstiegen")
  21. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 94: No. 2. Steig auf, geliebter Schatten ("Steig auf, geliebter Schatten")
  22. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 94: No. 3. Mein Herz ist schwer ("Mein Herz ist schwer, mein Auge wacht")
  23. Songs (5) for voice & piano, Op. 94: No. 5. Kein Haus, keine Heimat ("Kein Haus, keine Heimat, kein Weib und kein Kind")
  24. Songs (7) for voice & piano, Op. 95: No. 2. Bei dir sind meine Gedanken ("Bei dir sind meine Gedanken")
  25. Songs (7) for voice & piano, Op. 95: No. 7. Sch�n war, das ich dir weihte ("Sch�n war, das ich dir weihte")
  26. Songs (4) for voice & piano, Op. 96: No. 1. Der Tod, das ist die k�hle Nacht ("Der Tod, das ist die k�hle Nacht")
  27. Songs (4) for voice & piano, Op. 96: No. 2. Wir wandelten ("Wir wandelten, wir zwei zusammen")
  28. Songs (4) for voice & piano, Op. 96: No. 4. Meerfahrt ("Mein Liebchen, wir sa�en beisammen")

Disc 6:

  1. Romances (15) from Tieck's 'Die sch�ne Magelone' for voice & piano, Op. 33: 1. Keinen hat es noch gereut
  2. Romances (15) from Tieck's 'Die sch�ne Magelone' for voice & piano, Op. 33: 2. Traun! Bogen und Pfeil
  3. Romances (15) from Tieck's 'Die sch�ne Magelone' for voice & piano, Op. 33: 3. Sind es Schmerzen, sind es Freuden
  4. Romances (15) from Tieck's 'Die sch�ne Magelone' for voice & piano, Op. 33: 4. Liebe kam aus fernen Landen
  5. Romances (15) from Tieck's 'Die sch�ne Magelone' for voice & piano, Op. 33: 5. So willst du des Armen
  6. Romances (15) from Tieck's 'Die sch�ne Magelone' for voice & piano, Op. 33: 6. Wie soll ich die Freude
  7. Romances (15) from Tieck's 'Die sch�ne Magelone' for voice & piano, Op. 33: 7. War es dir, dem diese Lippen bebten
  8. Romances (15) from Tieck's 'Die sch�ne Magelone' for voice & piano, Op. 33: 8. Wir m�ssen uns trennen
  9. Romances (15) from Tieck's 'Die sch�ne Magelone' for voice & piano, Op. 33: 9. Ruhe, S��liebchen, im Schatten
  10. Romances (15) from Tieck's 'Die sch�ne Magelone' for voice & piano, Op. 33: 10. Verzweiflung
  11. Romances (15) from Tieck's 'Die sch�ne Magelone' for voice & piano, Op. 33: 11. Wie schnell verschwindet
  12. Romances (15) from Tieck's 'Die sch�ne Magelone' for voice & piano, Op. 33: 12. Mu� es eine Trennung geben
  13. Romances (15) from Tieck's 'Die sch�ne Magelone' for voice & piano, Op. 33: 13. Geliebter, wo zaudert
  14. Romances (15) from Tieck's 'Die sch�ne Magelone' for voice & piano, Op. 33: 14. Wi froh und frisch mein Sinn sich hebt
  15. Romances (15) from Tieck's 'Die sch�ne Magelone' for voice & piano, Op. 33: 15. Treue Liebe dauert lange

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #60889 in Music
  • Released on: 2006-02-28
  • Number of discs: 6
  • Format: Box set
  • Dimensions: .48 pounds

Customer Reviews

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau Sings Brahms5
Many informed music lovers know Brahms primarily through his large scale works: the symphonies, concertos, chamber music, and German Requiem. There is a tendency to overlook Brahms as a composer of songs. This is unfortunate as it tends to obscure the lyrical, intimate side of Brahms, throughout his work, by concentrating the listener's attention on Brahms as a master of large-scale form. Brahms's approximately 200 songs show a more intimate side of the composer and are well-worth hearing. They are lovely in their own right, and they will give the listener a deeper understanding of the Brahms of the symphonies and other extended pieces.

This six-CD set of Brahms lieder offers an overview of Brahms'song output from the beginning of his career to the end. Brahms, indeed, composed songs throughout his career. In these CDs, Dietrich Fisher- Dieskau is accompanied by four pianists: Gerald Moore, Wolfgang Swallisch, Daniel Barenboim, and Sviatoslav Richter. Thus it presents the listener with a variety of sylistic approaches to the accompaniment of lieder.

Most of Brahms's songs are simple and melodic. Brahms generally focuses on the mood of the song as a whole and does not try to shape phrases around specific words. Some of the songs will appear spare to those knowing the songs of Schubert or Schumann. Many show the great influence of folk music. Brahms's themes are, broadly, love found and love lost with the latter predominating as the composer grows older. Brahms tended to set texts by poets whom he knew or who grew up in his own home town of Hamburg.

Many of Brahms' better-known songs are in this collection, including, of course, the "Lullaby." Fischer-Dieskau sings Brahms's near-final work the "Four Serious Songs" opus 121 with great solemnity. This work was written upon the death of Clara Schumann. Another well-known song is "Regenlied" which Brahms used as the theme for the finale of his first sonata for violin and piano. There is much to be discovered in this compilation by repeated listening.

I particularly enjoyed the performance of Brahms's rarely-performed song-cycle "Die Schone Magelone" opus 33 in which Fischer-Dieskau is accompanied by Richter. This is a large-scale dramatic and romantic work, unlike most of the shorter songs. In it Brahms poured forth intimate feelings to a degree rare in the works he composed before or after. The cycle sets 15 poems by Ludwig Tieck and tells a story of medieval courtly love lost and, ultimately, won . It is intense and personal music.

I found it useful to get to know Brahms's songs through a cross-section beautifully performed by Fischer-Dieskau rather than to approach them piecemeal through individual recordings. Until recently, this set was available on EMI at a price nearly double the current price of the collection on Brilliant, making this new Brilliant release a real find. This set will open to the listener the world of Brahms' songs. This compilation should be irrestible to lovers of art song. It will show those familiar with Brahms's more famous works a new side of the composer.

Robin Friedman



BRAHMS AND FRIENDS5
Brahms's total output of solo songs does not approach Schubert's 606 and I have never known the exact figure, but here are 164 of them to be going on with, and I think that constitutes a very high percentage.

The baritone voice is the timbre I generally find best suited to Brahms, and on these six discs we hear a lyric baritone among lyric baritones. This is one of the greatest voices of the 20th century, and I expect indeed of any century. To this God-given endowment Fischer-Dieskau brings artistry and professionalism of the highest and strictest order. You will find total technical perfection applied to the first song here: you will find loving understanding lavished on the 164th; and you will find both in equal measure in each and every one. Lyricism is the first and foremost requirement. Most of the poems here are what we would term `lyrics', although there are a few ballads and of course there are the four awesome biblical settings op 121. However Brahms, unlike his great contemporary songwriter Wolf but like Bach, is an `absolute' musician through and through. Music, not literary considerations, has primacy even more than it has in the songs of Schubert. However the tradition that Brahms embodies is that of Schubert, influenced along the way mainly, I believe, by Mendelssohn.

The stylistic descent from Schubert shows mainly in the vocal line, as is not surprising from a composer whose melodic gift rivals Schubert's own. However the piano parts go far beyond Schubert. It is in these that I think I hear Mendelssohn's influence, because in both Mendelssohn and Brahms the piano-writing is that of a proficient pianist. It is still `accompaniment' and not equal partnership as in Wolf, but the piano is no longer content to stay beneath the voice but often ventures boldly up into the voice's territory. What this must imply is that the piano-playing is of crucial importance, and we have on these six discs three players of high distinction, plus one who rates a description well beyond that.

I prefer the style and touch of Sawallisch to that of Moore or Barenboim because he lets more air into the texture. They all do well, but for me he does best, and so I was pleased to note that on the fourth disc Sawallisch does not hand over to Barenboim until after the Four Serious Songs. He starts these magnificently, and Fischer-Dieskau is able to darken his voice in a natural and impressive way, delivering a magnificent low note on `Toten' in the second song. All the sadder, then, that the one thing that is flunked in 164 songs is the greatest moment in the greatest of all Brahms's songs, the phrase beginning `Nun aber bleibet...' in the fourth of these four. I would have liked more `sense of occasion' from Fischer-Dieskau, but above all what happened to the stupendous chord at `Liebe'? This should be the Lost Chord itself, but here it is disappointingly normal. However there is a compensation. In the 15-song Magalone cycle the player is no less than Richter, and Richter at his wonderful best. It is not so much a matter of the insight shown as one of sheer pianistic talent, and if you want to hear how Brahms's piano-writing can sound comely and graceful without loss of power and grandeur, and do so because the control and balance of the player's touch are pure perfection, this is where you can hear it.

In terms of quantity, these discs represent outstanding value. The sound is excellent throughout, although the effect is startlingly different between the first and second discs. The German text of the songs is given, but nothing more - no translation(s), no liner comment. We should just be thankful for what we are given, especially as the German is very accurately printed. Here and there the editors tag this or that line or stanza as `not set by Brahms', in case we had not noticed. They may perhaps thank me for noticing that in op 43/2 the second stanza is not set either, and in op 72/3 only the first and third stanzas are sung, so I must suppose that only they are set. In opp 48/7 and 57/3 I heard some minor divergences from my text, for whatever reason, and in op 94/5 I suspect that the first four lines (not sung) do not even belong there. Otherwise the only unresolved issue for me is how the poem to op 14/4 manages to have acquired the title `Sonnet'.

In one word - `terrific'.