Composer

:

Johannes Brahms

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1857

Average_duration

:

2:22

Johannes Brahms composed "Schnitter Tod" (Reaper Death) as part of his collection of German folk songs, WoO 34. The collection was published in 1865 and contains 49 songs that Brahms arranged for voice and piano. "Schnitter Tod" is the thirteenth song in the collection. The premiere of "Schnitter Tod" is not well-documented, but it is likely that Brahms performed it himself in private settings or at small gatherings. The song is a setting of a German folk poem that describes the Grim Reaper as a harvester who cuts down the wheat and the flowers. The poem is a meditation on the inevitability of death and the transience of life. Brahms' setting of the poem is haunting and melancholic. The piano accompaniment is sparse and repetitive, evoking the slow and steady rhythm of the Reaper's scythe. The vocal melody is simple and plaintive, with long, sustained notes that emphasize the poem's themes of sadness and resignation. The song is in A minor and has a slow tempo. It is divided into three stanzas, each with a different melody. The first stanza is sung in a low register, with the melody rising and falling in a mournful arc. The second stanza is more hopeful, with a brighter melody that suggests the possibility of redemption. The final stanza returns to the somber mood of the first, with a melody that descends to the lowest notes of the singer's range. Overall, "Schnitter Tod" is a powerful example of Brahms' ability to capture the emotional essence of a poem through his music. The song is a testament to the enduring power of German folk poetry and the rich tradition of art song that Brahms helped to establish.

More....