The sixth movement is highly charged – the most openly dramatic movement of the Requiem. The chorus begins with a depiction of dark, veiled uncertainty. The baritone tells them a great mystery, “You will not all sleep, but will be transformed.” The chorus repeats the text with continued mystery. When the baritone yet again proclaims this transformation, he dramatically soars to a high F-sharp. The chorus continues in mystery. Finally, he breaks off as he says the transformation will happen “in the blink of an eye (ein Augenblick.”) “At the time of the last trumpet” is sung with the soloist and all the chorus parts entering, piling on top of each other, in a remarkable, gripping moment. “Then shall the trumpet resound and the dead shall rise” is set to truly thrilling music, as if a war were being waged. Brahms’ “victory over death” comes as a hard-fought victory, a war in the trenches. But a victory it is. Death is finally conquered. The emphatic declarations, pauses, and more emphatic declarations are of immense power, and lead us to the final fugue of praise to the Glory and Power of God.

– Dennis Keene

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BRAHMS Ein Deutsches Requiem - Movement 6

Voices of Ascension
Dennis Keene, Artistic Director
Anna Shelest and Arlene Shrut, Pianists
Richard Zeller, Baritone

Recorded live January 30, 2014 at Church of the Ascension
The singers in this performance are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.