Fest- und Gedenksprüche
Fest- und Gedenksprüche, Op. 109, is a cycle of three motets for mixed double choir by Johannes Brahms. He completed the work, setting biblical verses to music, in 1889 and dedicated it to Carl Petersen. It was published in 1890 by Simrock.
Its topic is related to the then-recent unification of Germany in 1871, and the music is suitable for commemorative national festivities.
History
Brahms composed the work in response to his recognition by the city of Hamburg as an honorary citizen. He chose biblical verses in the translation of Martin Luther, and began the composition for a mixed double choir a cappella in 1888. He dedicated the work to Carl Petersen, then the mayor of Hamburg.The original titles of the three movements are:
The chosen biblical verses, Sprüche or dicta, are concerned with a people, its national culture, and tradition passed from fathers to sons. The topics matched the recent unification of Germany to an empire in 1871, which led to festivities in the country. Brahms used a double chorus to illustrate both arguments and unification. His setting has been regarded as "an optimistic bulwark against the centrifugal antagonisms that would soon beset the young German nation".
The work was first performed in Hamburg on 9 September 1889 - with the aid of six brassplayers, three in each chorus - for the ceremony of honorary citizenship by the Cäcilienverein, expanded to around 400 singers, conducted by Julius Spengel. The performance was part of the Musikfest in der Hamburgischen Gewerbe- und Industrieausstellung. It was published by Simrock in February 1890. Performances in Germany followed at festivities commemorating the unified Germany.
Structure and music
The following table shows the incipit, the marking, key and time.| Beginning of text | Translation | Biblical source | Marking | Key | Time | |
| I | Unsere Väter hofften auf dich | In you our fathers trusted | Feierlich bewegt | |||
| II | Wenn ein starker Gewappneter | When a heavily armed man | Lebhaft und entschlossen | |||
| III | Wo ist ein so herrlich Volk | Where is there such a great nation | Froh bewegt | F major |
The first motet, "Unsere Väter hofften auf dich", is marked Feierlich bewegt. In triple time, it begins with the choir divided in two four-part groups in the way of Venetian polychoral music. The second choir begins, the first answers a measure later and in an embellished way. It ends in even time, in a passage of free counterpoint for all parts.
The middle motet, "Wenn ein starker Gewappneter" is marked Lebhaft und entschlossen. It is a ternary form, with a beginning reminiscent of Handel. The middle section is set in C minor and illustrates dramatically the text "ein Haus fället".
The last motet, "Wo ist ein so herrlich Volk", is marked Froh bewegt . It is set again in Venetian style, with terraced antiphonal singing. It culminates with a recapitulation of its beginning above a pedal point.