Article on the performance of Brahms' Requiem,
Yorkshire Post
, 1914
In this connection it is interesting to note that Brahms's "German
Requiem" is to be sung, as usual in the Advent season, in many of our
churches. The annual performance is to take place in Leeds Parish Church next
Tuesday, and in Ripon Cathedral on Friday, December 18. In York the activities
of the two principal musical societies, the York Musical Society and the York
Symphony Orchestra, are hampered because no hall is available for their
concerts. So the Dean has allowed them the use of the nave of the Cathedral,
where, on Tuesday, December 15, Brahms's great work will be given. the
expenses- will be defrayed by subscription, and presumably admission will be
free, though a certain proportion of the space will be reserved for
subscribers. The solos will he sung by Miss Agnes Nicholls and Mr. George
Parker, and Dr Bairstow will, of course, conduct. One will be interested to
notice whether in any of these cases the proper title of the work will be
given, and it seems that in any case there might be protests, patriots
objecting to the word "German," while Protestants, no doubt, might
act up to their name if it were announced that a "Requiem" is to be
given in an Anglican church. Brahms has before now been confounded with Braham,
so perhaps, like so many of his countrymen, he might have his name changed, and
his work might be described as an oratorio by Braham, whose patriotism as
composer of "The Death of Nelson" could not be doubted.
