Whereas a traditional requiem consists of prayers for the dead, Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem focuses on the living, and on the experience of human life.  In fact, Brahms told a friend that he had considered calling the work Ein menschliches Requiem – a Human Requiem – and the work is characterised by a sympathetic humanism which speaks to listeners of all faiths and none.

The text, which the choir will sing in the original German, is set to melodious and expressive music and some movements, such as Denn alles Fleisch, es ist wie Gras (For all Flesh is as Grass) and Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen (How Beautiful are thy Dwelling Places), have become well-known independently of the Requiem.

The choir will also sing anthems from the English choral tradition: Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in C by Charles Stanford, and works by Ernest Bullock and Edward Bairstow.