Sunday, April 18 / 3pm / Sanctuary

Inspired by the music of Viennese waltz composers Johann Strauss and Johann Strauss II, Johannes Brahms wrote his first set of Liebeslieder Walzer (Lovesong Waltzes), Op. 52 in the summer of 1868, when he was 35 years old. He was influenced significantly by Franz Schubert, an Austrian composer during the late Classical and early Romantic eras, who wrote a set of dances for duo piano that Brahms edited following his appointment to the Wiener Singakademie (Vienna Singing Academy) in 1863. The waltzes are a collection of love songs for voices and four-hand piano accompaniment.

The Schicksalslied (Song of Fate), Op. 54 is one of the major choral works written by Brahms and is based on a poem written by Friedrich Hölderlin. Brahms began work on the piece around the same time he was composing the Liebeslieder Walzer in 1868, but did not complete it until 1871. It is a three-part composition was originally written for chorus and full orchestra, but it is also scored for chamber orchestra accompaniment, which will be utilized in this performance.

The event will be held in the GFUMC Sanctuary. Admission is free. Guests may reserve up to four seats.