As the year draws to an end with final exams on everyone’s minds, Luther musicians are taking all necessary preparations for their upcoming performance of the Brahms Requiem. This seven-movement piece will be performed on May 22 by Nordic, Collegiate and Cathedral Choirs, along with the Symphony Orchestra.

Next to Handel’s “Messiah,” Brahms’ “German Requiem” (Ein Deutsches Requiem) is said to be the best known and most frequently performed choral-orchestral work. It was composed between 1865 and 1866 by Johannes Brahms and its seven movements last around 70 minutes, making it Brahms’ longest composition.

Rehearsals for this piece began after spring break, since all of the choirs had spring tours to prepare for. Director of Cathedral Choir and Assistant Professor of Music Sandra Peter has been working hard to prepare her choir for performing this piece.

“It’s a transition we had to make, learning a large-scale oratorio, in German, and with a different conductor, but I think the students have been proud to be working on this, and the connection is coming,” Peter said.

Orchestra Director and Professor of Music Daniel Baldwin will be conducting this oratorio, and has been working to help the musicians learn both the music and content of the piece.

“As we learn the notes, I hope we also begin to understand what the music is about,” Baldwin said. “The German Requiem is a very special piece. It is a very spiritual piece, very philosophical, meaningful on a number of levels. As director of the orchestra, I have tried to introduce the sung text-scripture drawn from the Bible and the Apocrypha, selected and assembled by the composer —as the orchestra has learned the piece, movement by movement and the orchestra most certainly needs some knowledge of the text in order to play the piece expressively.”

Along with rehearsals, the musicians are required to work independently, much like any other class.

“There are many tools, especially on the KATIE Web site that can be used for preparations outside of rehearsals,” Peter said. “We have the German text recorded, the individual parts, as well as a full recording on KATIE for resources. The basic philosophy is just as with any other academic course, do your homework, learn your part, do some studying before you come to rehearsal.”

Commencement weekend will be exceptionally honorable this spring for the Luther community.

“In view of the college’s great musical, spiritual and intellectual traditions, I can’t think of a better way to end the year,” Baldwin said. “It is hoped this will be a transformative, transcendent experience, for students and their teachers, and for all who attend the concert.”