Spring Rehearsal 2019 Brahms!
Description
We sing Brahms’ motet “God of Mercy” at Park View Mennonite Church.
The Historic Faith · Hymn Companion
Spring Rehearsal 2019 Brahms!
Words by Biblical text from Psalm 51, in Martin Luther's German Bible translationMusic by Johannes BrahmsWritten c. 1860
Schaffe in mir, Gott, ein rein Herz, und gib mir einen neuen, gewissen Geist.
Verwirf mich nicht von deinem Angesicht, und nimm deinen heiligen Geist nicht von mir.
Tröste mich wieder mit deiner Hilfe, und der freudige Geist erhalte mich.
Story Behind the Song
The piece identified as Brahms's motet “God of Mercy” is most likely Schaffe in mir, Gott, ein rein Herz, Op. 29, No. 2. Brahms set Luther's German translation of verses from Psalm 51 as an unaccompanied motet for mixed choir, published as part of his Zwei Motetten, Op. 29. The work reflects Brahms's deep study of Renaissance and Baroque contrapuntal church music while using his own nineteenth-century harmonic language.