CCM Choirs and Orchestra join forces for Brahms' powerful Requiem

The CCM Concert Orchestra is joined by both the CCM Chamber Choir and the CCM Chorale, as well as guest ensemble Musica Sacra, for Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem, one of the most beloved works in the canon. The concert, which also features a world premiere by CCM Composition student Siyuan Kang, takes place Tuesday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Corbett Auditorium. Tickets are on sale now through the CCM Box Office.

Brahms composed Ein Deutsches Requiem, or A German Requiem, between 1865 and 1868. While a traditional requiem features Latin liturgical text, Brahms’ Requiem is notable for its use of the German language. The text, compiled by Brahms himself, is derived from the Luther Bible. Known for its stirring melodies and rich orchestration, the piece has won over audiences for generations with its intensely moving pathos. Other famous Requiems, like Verdi’s and Mozart’s, focus on the dead. Brahms’ work, on the other hand, recenters the text on the living who are left behind.

“Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted,” begins the first movement. The first movement “is one of the most moving openings I can think of,” says Brett Scott, CCM Professor of Ensembles and Conducting, who leads the March 4 concert. “It is deeply satisfying to conduct, and it asks both instrumentalists and singers to reach deep into their skills as musicians to interpret Brahms’ work.”

“Its message is universal and talks about the human condition,” continues Scott. “It allows the students to express a variety of emotions and character through the music, perhaps more than any other large work from this repertoire.”

The concert also features a world premiere by Siyuan Kang (DMA Composition, ’27), winner of the CCM Composition Competition. Her piece, Coming Winter, is an exploration of seasons changing and the emotional world they evoke. The percussive, texturally complex piece evokes “the cold, occasional storms, and beneath it all, a hidden vitality — the potential for life that will emerge in spring,” says the composer.

Kang’s work introduces the requiem, and shares with it themes of resilience and hope: “On a more abstract level, the piece embodies both my emotional responses to winter… a subtle sense of unease about its harshness, and my rational belief that winter also brings calmness and life beneath its surface,” remarks Kang.

Featuring a world premiere and a timeless classic, the concert is one of the largest in CCM’s 2024-25 season. With a full chorus, orchestra, guest ensemble and two soloists, the seven-movement Requiem is both Brahms’ largest-scale and longest work. 

“This is a piece that absolutely needs to be heard live to be fully appreciated,” says Scott of the Requiem. “Over a 100 singers and over 50 instrumentalists will be combining to make a glorious sound in Corbett Auditorium.”

• 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 4 

Tickets: $19.50 adult, $15 student, $15 UC faculty/staff, $10 UC student, $5 CCM student; group discounts available.

Experiencing the magic of CCM OnStage has never been easier! Purchase your tickets:

• Online at ccmonstage.universitytickets.com
• Over the phone at 513-556-4183
• In person at the CCM Box Office in the Atrium of UC's Corbett Center for the Performing Arts

CCM’s Box Office hours are Tue-Fri from 1-5 p.m. and one hour prior to curtain for ticketed performances. Hours subject to change based on the University of Cincinnati calendar. Our Box Office staff is always ready to answer your questions by phone at 513-556-4183 or email at boxoff@uc.edu. 

CCM is located on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. For detailed driving directions, visit ccm.uc.edu/directions.

Parking is available in UC's CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Effective July 1, 2023, all University of Cincinnati Parking Services locations are cashless. Pay for parking securely with your credit/debit card. All major credit cards accepted.

CCM OnStage patrons can add pre-paid parking to their checkout carts when purchasing tickets. Pre-paid parking is date/performance specific. CCM Garage parking rates for a performance or special event is usually available for $10-15. Learn more about parking at UC's CCM Garage.

For additional information on parking at UC, please visit uc.edu/about/parking.

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