When you think of Brahms you don't necessarily think first of choral music. But during Brahms' lifetime, singing for pleasure was undergoing an explosive revival in Germany, and choirs were sprouting everywhere like flowers.

The young, lilting voices of the famed Westminster Choir demonstrate the delight in singing which allows this music to be heard at its best. The 40-voice choir, recognized as one of the world's leading choral ensembles for over 60 years, regularly tours throughout the U.S. and in Europe. For 21 years it was the chorus-in-residence for the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy, and since 1977 has been the chorus-in-residence for the Spoleto Festival U.S.A. in Charleston, S.C.

As part of the 200-voice Westminster Symphonic Choir (which can be heard on the recent recording of Dvorak's Stabat Mater, DE 3161), the Westminster Choir has performed with major orchestras under virtually every internationally known conductor of the last 50 years. It has sung over 300 performances with the New York Philharmonic alone, and during the '95-'96 season appears with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Complete Contents

1. Selections from Liebeslieder Walzer, Op. 52 [10:36]
   • No. 8 Wenn so lind dein Auge mir (1:18)
   • No. 9 Am Donaustrande (2:17)
   • No. 10 O wie sanft die Quelle (:51)
   • No. 11 Nein, es ist nicht auszukommen (:56)
   • No. 12 Schlosser auf, und mache Schlösser (:48)
   • No. 13 Vögelein durchrauscht die Luft (:46)
   • No. 14 Sieh, wie ist die Welle klar (1:03)
   • No. 15 Nachtigall, sie singt so schön (1:13)
   • No. 16 Ein dunkeler Schacht ist Liebe (1:24)
2. From Deutsche Volkslieder, for Unaccompanied Choir [5:17]
   • Abschliedslied, WoO 34, No. 9 (1:42)
   • In stiller Nacht, WoO 34, No. 8 (2:04)
   • Die Wollust in den Maien, WoO 34, No. 11 (1:31)
3. From Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103 [9:15]
   • No. 5 Brauner Bursche fŸhrt zum Tanze (1:21)
   • No. 6 Röslein dreie in der Reihe (1:37)
   • No. 7 Kommt dir manchmal in den Sinn (2:11)
   • No. 8 Horch, der Wind klagt in den Zweigen (2:03)
   • No. 9 Weit und breit schaut niemand mich an (2:03)
4. Motet for Four-Part Choir
   • O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf, Op. 74, No. 2 (5:54)
5. Four Quartets with Piano Accompaniment [16:36]
   • An die Heimat, Op. 64, No. 1 (5:43)
   • Der Abend, Op. 64, No. 2 (5:08)
   • Spätherbst, Op. 92, No. 2 (1:50)
   • Abendlied, Op. 92, No. 3 (3:55)
6. From Neue Liebeslieder-Walzer, Op. 65
   • No. 15 Zum Schluß (3:20)

Westminster Choir
Joseph Flummerfelt, conductor
Glenn Parker and Nancianne Parrella, pianists

Total playing time: 50:58