Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen, from Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 34/IV
Johannes Brahms wrote the heartfelt requiem after some of his beloved persons left him eternally. Robert Schumann, his mentor and the influential composer who brought Brahms into musical prominence, died in 1856. Brahms helped to console the traumatized widow of Robert, Clara Wieck and it was during then Brahms started the second movement of the requiem. But the seven-movement choral work was not completed until 1868, a short time after his beloved mother died.
Contrary to usual musical setting to a Messa da Requiem, Brahms selected texts from the Bible for his setting but not from the Latin liturgy. The Brahms requiem is, as a result of the carefully selected verses, a shining glory of praises, mortality and transcendence. The fourth movement, Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen (How lovely is thy dwelling place), taken out from Psalm 84, is a heavenly praise to the Creator's abundance. It is a rarity of peace within a set of music for deceased, and even rare that a person to truly reckon one's vulnerability: it's the living who needs the consolation and hope.
Original text (Ps. 84:1-2, 4, Luther Bibel, 1545)
Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen, Herr Zebaoth!
Meine Seele verlanget und sehnet sich
nach den Vorhfen des Herrn;
mein Leib und Seele freuen sich
in dem lebendigen Gott.
Wohl denen, die in deinem Hause wohnen,
die loben dich immerdar.
English text (Ps. 84:1-2, 4, New International Version)
How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.
Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
Recording and Performer
This recording is recorded live at Hong Kong City Hall on December 31, 2005.
Lau Wing-yan, Winny, piano
Winny graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2000, majoring in music. She studied piano under Prof. Li Mingqiang and Miss Poon Tak, and studied organ under Miss wong Kin-yu, Winny has obtained LTCL Diploma (piano performance) from Trinity College. DipABRSM (piano performance) and Grade eight certificate in organ performance from ABRSM. After graduation, she studied for the postgraduate Diploma in the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Master Degree in the Hong Kong Baptist University, majoring in music education.
Winny was invited to perform and introduce the organ in the Cultural Centre in the "School Cultural Day" for more than three years. She is now a music teacher and the organist of the Hong Kong Baptist Church.
Kwong Chi-wai, Charles, clarinet
Kwong i s currently a sophomore Music Major student of the Chinese University of Hong Kong who studies clarinet with Mr. Michael Campbell and piano with Ms. Wong Mei-ling.
Wu Kiu-lap, Woody, violin
Wu Kiu-lap completed his bachekir degree of arts in the Chinese University of Hong Kong in the year 2003. Soon after that, he completed his master degree of music (music composition) in the year 2005, with the guidance of Professor Chan Wing-wah. He is a member of Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong since 2002.
Jim Wai-man, Jamie, cello
Jamie Jim Wai-man graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2002 and later the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts in 2005, majoring in cello under Prof. Ray Wang. She has been a member of the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra, the CUHK Chung Chi Orchestra, the Academy Orchestra and currently a freelance player of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta.
Isaac Lau, recording engineer