Two Motets, Op. 74 (Brahms)

Two Motets
Motets by Johannes Brahms
Cover of the first print
Other name
  • "Warum ist das Licht gegeben dem Mühseligen?"
  • "O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf"
Opus74
TextBiblical, chorales
Composed1877 (1877), 1863
DedicationPhilipp Spitta
Published1878 (1878)
ScoringMixed choir

Two Motets (Zwei Motetten), Op. 74, are two sacred motets for unaccompanied mixed choir by Johannes Brahms, published together. Number 1, composed in 1877 in several movements, is Warum ist das Licht gegeben dem Mühseligen? (Why has light been given to the weary of soul?), based on Biblical texts and a chorale. Number 2, believed to have been composed in 1863/64, is O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf, containing different settings of the stanzas of Friedrich von Spee's "O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf" (O Saviour, tear open the heavens). The two motets were published by N. Simrock in December 1878 and dedicated to Philipp Spitta.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.