Pronunciation of

 

Johannes Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem)

 

by Cliff Lamere    January 2011

 

 

This webpage attempts to show singers how to pronounce the Brahm' Requiem in American English (which would be different from British English).  

 

Understanding the Sound Descriptions Used in this Webpage

American English

Description I Use

American English Sound

 

American English

Description I Use

American English Sound

 

 

 

 

ah

as in Father

soft ng as in Singer

aw

as in Saw

oh

as in Hope

ai

as in Main

oo

as in Soon

ee

as in Seen

ow

as in Cow

or  eh

as in Set

oy

as in Toy

hh

exhaled sound of CH

ř

almost silent

or  ih

as in Sit

r

a flipped r

Ī  or  ī

as in Pipe

uh

as in But

 

 

Û or  û

u as in Put or Push

 

 

 

The German vowel ü is closer to ee than oo, but it is in between.  To say it, shape your lips to say oo, but say ee instead.  Below, I represent the sound as ee.  

 

In Ein Deutsches Requiem, Johannes Brahms used biblical quotations as the text for his composition.  There are about 70 short lines of German.  In the table below, for each German word I show the phonetic pronunciaton in English.  The table above shows my description of each American English sound.  Understanding those will allow you to accurately interpret how I would say each German word.  

 

Websites which will pronounce German words for you disagree with each other about the pronunciation.  This is probably due to the fact that there are many German dialects.  In some cases, Victor Klimash may prefer a different pronunciation from what I present on this webpage.   

 

Caution:   The table below is 4 columns wide.  Cursor over to see the ones that are beyond the right edge of the screen. 

 

STRATEGIES THAT WILL HELP IMPROVE YOUR PRONUNCIATION OF GERMAN

 

For singers not familiar with the pronunciation of German, some of these suggestions may help.  We each learn best in our own way.  Select from the options below.

 

I.

A)  Read the phonetic transliteration of the German phrases.  Using the small table above as a reference, pronounce all of the text of the Brahms' Requiem a couple of times or more.  You will have difficulty understanding or remembering some pronunciations.  

B)  Refer to my webpage called "Guide to German Pronunciation For Singers".  It is an extensive attempt to teach you how to pronounce each vowel, consonant, and various combinations of two letters.  When you don't understand something on this Brahms Requiem webpage, refer to the Guide.

 

II.

Write some or all of the pronunciations into your score.  

 

III.

The 4-column table below has also been reduced to just the two essential columns, then put on another webpage for easier printing.   You may prefer to have a printed copy for times when you are not in front of your computer.  Click here to look at that copy.  

 

IV.

To sing the words of the Requiem, you may want to study how to pronounce the language itself, then apply what you have learned as you arrive at each word to sing.  See "Guide to German Pronunciation For Singers".

 

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Unlike other requiems, the word requiem appears only in the title of this composition.

 

I have used the German text and its English translation as they appear on Wikipedia Encyclopedia [Source].  The phonetics are mine.  

 

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Victor Klimash has been consulted concerning the pronunciations he will teach in the rehearsals and performance.  Those pronunciations have been included here.  Some of his comments follow.  They appear as quotations.

 

Flipped R 

 

Victor Klimash says that a single or double [r] "should generally be flipped, except in a polysyllabic word ending in -er; then it functions like the English -er."  

 

To roll or trill an R, the tongue is held lightly against the ridge just behind the top teeth where it vibrates several times.  To flip an R, the tongue lightly stikes that ridge only once.  It requires some practice.

 

Vowels Containing Umlauts 

 

ö - "should be pronounced as you indicate (with the silent [r])"  

   I represent that as eř, the ř meaning an almost silent [r].  I don't believe that VK meant an absolutely silent [r].  

 

ü - "should be pronounced like a long [ee] through the lips shaped like an [oo]"

 

Other

 

ch - "takes the physical place of the vowel which precedes it; so it has a different sound depending on the
vowel.  I will explain this in our rehearsals. (I use the examples nicht, necht, nacht, noch, buch.)"

 

Later, he wrote, "I begin the teaching of the German [ch] sound by having everyone first say the [sh] sound in English, noticing that their teeth are together.  I then ask them to separate their teeth and slightly lower the jaw.  This gives the sound of the [ch] preceded by [i] as in ich.  We then proceed through the vowel triangle from front to back [i, e, a, o, u] adding the [ch] to the end of the vowel sound, and noticing that the "taste" (placement) of the [ch] changes depending on the "taste" (placement ) of the vowel.  (This is all more easily demonstrated than explained.)  I hope this helps."

 

I presently show the sound of [ch] as hh to represent the exhaled air that accompanies this pronunciation.

 

-------------------------------------------------------

 

Phrases in Johannes Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem

MOVEMENT & PHRASE

PRONUNCIATION IN 

AMERICAN ENGLISH

BIBLICAL REFERENCE

(NOT EXACT TRANSLATION) 

BIBLE CITATION

 

 

 

 

 

1a

Selig sind, die da Leid tragen, 

Zai-lik zint, dee dah Līt Trah-gen, 

Blessed are they that mourn,

Matthew 5:4

denn sie sollen getröstet werden

den zee zaw-len geh-treř-stet vair-den

for they shall be comforted.   

1b

Die mit Tränen säen, 

  werden mit Freuden ernten.

Dee mit Trai-nen zai-en, 

  vair-den mit Froy-den airn-ten

They that sow in tears 

  shall reap in joy. 

Psalm 126:5-6

Sie gehen hin und weinen 

  und tragen edlen Samen, 

zee gai-en hin ũnt vī-nen 

  ũnt trah-gen aid-len Zah-men

They that go forth and weep, 

  bearing precious seed, 

und kommen mit Freuden 

  und bringen ihre Garben

ũnt kaw-men mit Froy-den ũnt

  brinğ-en ee-reh Gar-ben

shall doubtless come again with  rejoicing, 

bringing their sheaves with them.

2a

Denn alles Fleisch ist wie Gras 

Den ahl-es Flīsh ist vee Grahs

For all flesh is as grass, 

1 Peter 1:24

und alle Herrlichkeit des Menschen

  wie des Grases Blumen.

ûnt ah-leh Hair-lihh-kīt dais Men-shen

   vee dais Grahs-es Bloom-en

and all the glory of man 

  as the flower of grass.

Das Gras ist verdorret 

  und die Blume abgefallen.

Dahs Grahs ist fair-daw-ret

   ûnt dee Bloom-eh ahb-geh-fah-len.

The grass withers, 

  and the flower thereof falleth away.

2b

So seid nun geduldig, lieben Brüder,

  bis auf die Zukunft des Herrn.

Zo zīt nûn gai-dool-dik, lee-ben Bree-deř

  bis owf dee Tsoo-kûnft dais Hairn

Be patient therefore, brethren, 

  unto the coming of the Lord.

James 5:7

Siehe, ein Ackermann wartet 

  auf die köstliche Frucht der Erde 

Zee-eh, īn Ahk-er-mahn var-tet 

   owf dee köst-lihh-eh Froohht dair Air-deh

Behold, the husbandman waiteth 

  for the precious fruit of the earth, 

und ist geduldig darüber, bis er 

  empfahe den 

Morgenregen und Abendregen.

ûnt ist gai-dool-dik dah-ree-beř bis air 

  emp-fah-eh dain

Mor-gen-rai-gen ûnt Ah-bent-rai-gen.

and has long patience for it, until he receive

  the 

morning and evening rain. 

So seid geduldig. 

Zo zīt gai-dool-dik.

Be patient therefore.  

2c

Aber des Herrn Wort bleibet in Ewigkeit.

Ah-beř dais Hairn Vort blī-bet in Ai-vig-kīt.

But the word of the Lord endureth  for ever.  

I Peter 1:25

2d

Die Erlöseten des Herrn werden

  wieder kommen

Dee Air-leř-set-en dais Hairn vair-den 

  vee-deř-kaw-men

And the ransomed of the Lord shall

  return,

Isaiah 35:10

und gen Zion kommen mit Jauchzen.

   Freude, ewige Freude

wird über ihrem Haupte sein;

ûnt gain TSee-awn kaw-men mit Yowhh-tsen

   Froy-deh, ai-vee-geh Froy-deh

virt ee-beř ee-rem Howp-teh zīn

and come to Zion with songs
   and everlasting joy
upon their heads:

Freude und Wonne werden sie ergreifen,
  und Schmerz und Seufzen wird weg müssen.

Froy-deh ûnt Vaw-neh vair-den zee air-grī-fen,

   ûnt Shmairts ûnt Zoyf-tsen virt vaik mee-sen

they shall obtain joy and gladness,

   and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 

3a

Herr, lehre doch mich, 

   daß ein Ende mit mir haben muß,

Hair, lair-eh dawhh mihh,

   dahs īn End-eh mit meer hah-ben mûs,

Lord, make me to know mine end,

 

Wisdom of Solomon 3:1

und mein Leben ein Ziel hat, und ich davon

   muß.

ûnt mīn Lai-ben īn Tseel haht ûnt ihh dah-fawn

  mûs

and the measure of my days, what it is:
that I may know how frail I am.

Siehe, meine Tage sind einer Hand breit

  vor dir,

Zee-eh, mīn-eh Tahg-eh zint īn-eř Hahnd-brīt

  for deer

Behold, thou hast made my days
  as an handbreadth;

und mein Leben ist wie nichts vor dir.

ûnt mīn Lai-ben ist vee nihhts for deer.

and mine age is as nothing before thee.

3b

Ach, wie gar nichts sind alle Menschen,
   die doch so sicher leben.

Ahhh, vee gar  nihhts zint ahl-leh Men-shen,

dee dawhh zoh zihh-eř lai-ben.

Verily every man at his best state

   is altogether vanity.

Sie gehen daher wie ein Schemen,
   und machen ihnen viel vergebliche 

   Unruhe;

Zee gai-en dah-haiř vee īn Shai-men

   ûnt mah-hhen ee-nen feel fair-gai-blihh-eh 

   Ûn-roo-eh ;

Surely every man walks in a vain show:
   surely they are disquieted in vain:

 

sie sammeln, und wissen nicht,
   wer es kriegen wird.

zee zah-meln, ûnt vis-en nihht,

   vair es kree-gen virt.

he heaps up riches, and knows not
   who shall gather them.

Nun, Herr, wes soll ich mich trösten? 

Nûn, Hair, vais zawl ihh mihh treř-sten

And now, Lord, what wait I for? 

3c

Ich hoffe auf dich. 

Ihh haw-feh owf dihh.

My hope is in thee. 

Psalm 39:5-8

3d

Der Gerechten Seelen sind in Gottes Hand,

 

   und keine Qual rühret sie an.

Dair Ger-ehh-ten Zai-len zint in Gaw-tes Hahnt,

 

   ûnt Kī-neh kvahl ree-ret zee ahn.

The souls of the righteous are in the  hand of God

   and there shall no torment touch them. 

Wisdom of Solomon 3:1

4a

Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen,
   Herr Zebaoth!

Vee leeb-lihh zint dī-neh Vo-nûnğ-en

   Hair Tsai-bah-awt

How lovely are thy tabernacles,
   O Lord of hosts!

Psalm 84:1,2,4

4b

Meine Seele verlanget und sehnet sich
   nach den Vorhöfen des Herrn;

Mī-neh Zai-leh fair-lahnğ-et ûnt zai-net zihh 

   nahhh dain For-heř-fen dais Hairn;

My soul longs, yea, even faints

   for the courts of the Lord:

4c

mein Leib und Seele freuen sich
   in dem lebendigen Gott.

Mīn Līp ûnt Zai-leh froy-en zihh

   in daim lai-ben-di-gen Gawt.

my heart and my flesh cries out
   for the living God.

4d

Wohl denen, die in deinem Hause wohnen,
   die loben dich immerdar.

Vohl dai-nen, dee in dī-nem How-zeh voh-nen

   dee loh-ben dihh im-mer-dahř.

Blessed are they that dwell in thy house:
   they will always be praising thee. 

5a

Ihr habt nun Traurigkeit;
   aber ich will euch wiedersehen

Eer hahbt nûn Trow-rig-kīt;

   ah-beř ihh vil oyhh vee-der-zai-en

And ye now therefore have sorrow:
   but I will see you again,

John 16:22

und euer Herz soll sich freuen,

ûnt oy-eř Hairts zawl zihh froy-en

and your heart shall rejoice,

und eure Freude soll niemand von 

   euch nehmen.

ûnt oy-reh Froy-deh zawl nee-mahnt fawn 

   oyhh nai-men.

and your joy no man taketh from you. 

5b

Sehet mich an: Ich habe eine kleine Zeit
   Mühe und Arbeit gehabt

Zai-et mihh ahn: Ihh hah-beh ī-neh klī-neh Tsīt

   Mee-eh ûnt Ar-bīt gai-hahbt

Behold with your eyes, how that I have

   but little labour,

Sirach 51:35

und habe großen Trost funden.

ûnt hah-beh grohs-en Trawst fûn-den.

and have gotten unto me much rest. 

5c

Ich will euch trösten,
   wie einen seine Mutter tröstet.

Ihh vil oyhh treř-sten,

   vee ī-nen zī-neh Mût-eř  treř-stet

As one whom his mother comforts,
   so will I comfort you. 

Isaiah 66:13

6a

Denn wir haben hie keine bleibende Statt,
   sondern die zukünftige suchen wir.

Den veer hah-ben hee kī-neh blī-ben-deh Shtaht,

   zawn-dern dee tsoo-keenf-tih-geh zoo-hhen veer.

For here have we no continuing city,
but we seek one to come. 

Hebrews 13:14

6b

Siehe, ich sage euch ein Geheimnis:

Zee-eh, ihh zah-geh oyhh īn Geh-hīm-nis:

Behold, I show you a mystery:

I Corinthians 15:51-55

Wir werden nicht alle entschlafen,
   wir werden aber all verwandelt werden;

Veer vair-den nihht ah-leh ent-shlah-fen,

  Veer vair-den ah-beř ahl fair-vahn-delt vair-den;

we shall not all sleep,
but we shall all be changed, in a moment,

und dasselbige plötzlich, in einem

  Augenblick,
zu der Zeit der letzen Posaune.

ûnt dahs-el-bee-geh pleřts-lihh in ī-nem

  Ow-gen-blik

tsoo dair TSīt dair let-tsen Poh-zow-neh.

in the twinkling of an eye,

 

at the last trumpet:

Denn es wird die Posaune schallen,
   und die Toten werden auferstehen

       unverweslich,
und wir werden verwandelt werden.

Den es virt dee Poh-zow-neh shah-len,

   ûnt dee Toh-ten vair-den ow-fair-shtai-en

     ûn-fair-ves-lihh

ûnt veer vair-den fair-vahn-delt vair-den.

for the trumpet shall sound,
   and the dead shall be raised 

     incorruptible,
and we shall be changed.

Dann wird erfüllet werden das Wort, das

   geschrieben steht:
Der Tod ist verschlungen in den Sieg.

Dahn virt air-fee-let vair-den dahs Vort, dahs

   geh-shree-ben shtait:

Dair Toht ist fair-shlûnğ-en in dain Zeek.

Then shall be brought to pass the saying 

   that is written,
Death is swallowed up in victory.

Tod, wo ist dein Stachel?
   Hölle, wo ist dein Sieg?

Toht, voh ist dīn Shtahh-el?

   Heř-leh, voh ist dīn Zeek?

O death, where is thy sting?
   O grave, where is thy victory? 

6c

Herr, du bist würdig,
   zu nehmen Preis und Ehre und Kraft,

Hair, doo bist veer-dik,

   tsoo nai-men Prīs ûnt Air-eh ûnt Krahft,

Thou art worthy, O Lord,
   to receive glory and honour and power:

Revelation 4:11

denn du hast alle Dinge geschaffen,

den doo hahst ah-leh Dinğ-eh geh-shah-fen,

for thou hast created all things,

und durch deinen Willen haben sie das 

   Wesen
und sind geschaffen.

ûnt doorhh dī-nen Vill-en hah-ben zee dahs

   Vai-zen

ûnt zint geh-shah-fen.

and for thy pleasure they are


and were created.

7

 

Selig sind die Toten, die in dem Herren

   sterben, von nun an. 

Zai-lik zint dee Toh-ten, dee in daim Hair-en

   shtair-ben, fawn noon ahn.

Blessed are the dead, which die in the Lord,

   from henceforth.

Revelation 14:13

Ja, der Geist spricht, daß sie ruhen von ihrer

   Arbeit; 

denn ihre Werke folgen ihnen nach.

Yah dair Gīst shprihht, dahs zee roo-en fawn eer-eř Ar-bīt; 

den eer-eh Vair-keh fohl-gen ee-nen nahh.

Yea, says the Spirit, that they may rest from 

   their labours;
and their works do follow them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Webpages prepared specifically for singing the Brahms Requiem

 

  Learn to pronounce German words

 

  Phonetic pronuciation of the German text of the Brahms Requiem (four columns)  [this webpage]

 

  Two-column version of the previous (better for printing)

 

  Directions to Union College parking, rehearsal hall, place to buy scores, etc.

 

Visitors since 1 Feb 2011