Wind movement for Johannes Brahms: Festive and memorial sayings op. 109 (1978)
Movement titles
I. Our fathers hoped for you, II. when a strong armed man, III. Where is such a marvellous people
Instrumentation
2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 clarinets in Bb, 2 horns in F, 2 trumpets in C, 2 trombones
Duration: 10 minutes
Premiere
8 October 1978, Trier Friedrich-Spee-Choir Trier | Winds | Karl Berg
Autograph
Title: Brahms op. 109 I - Length: 43 pages - Date: Dorfgastein 18 Aug. 78 - Location:
Publisher
Manuscript
On 30 May 1889, Johannes Brahms mentioned in a letter to Hans von Bülow that the Festive and Commemorative Verses op. 109/1 could also be performed with wind accompaniment for his sake. "... on the second day, for example, the sound would perhaps be a nice change ..."
Following this suggestion, Bertold Hummel created the movement for 12 wind instruments on a trip to America in 1978, which emphasises the festive character of the work. On 8 October 1978, this version of Brahms' Festive and Commemorative Proverbs was premiered together with Bruckner's Mass in E minor for choir and winds at the Festive Music Days in Trier.