Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

The University of Breslau conferred an honorary degree on Brahms in 1879. The rectors of the University no doubt expected the composer to respond to the honor by composing a special piece fitting the Latin citation that came with his degree: "the foremost composer of serious music in Germany today." Perhaps it would be a darkly somber symphony or an immensely complicated choral work, showing off all the contrapuntal techniques. They could hardly have expected what they got -- a potpourri of German student songs celebrating the less intellectual aspects of college life: wenching, wining, and freshman initiation! The various tunes include Wir haben gebauet ein stattliches Haus ("We have built a stately house") in the trumpets, followed by the noble Landesvater ("Father of his country") melody in the strings. Then comes the lively tune of the freshman-initiation "fox-ride" Was kommt dort von der Höhe? ("What comes from there on high?"). All of these tunes parade past once again before Brahms brings in the oldest and most famous of German student songs, Gaudeamus igitur: "Let us rejoice while we are still young; after a jolly youth and a burdensome old age, the earth will claim us."

- Donald Teeters

The Boston Cecilia performed this piece at New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall in Boston on March 16, 2003.

© 2004 Donald Teeters. All rights reserved.

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