School of Music Choral Project

Brahms: An English Requiem

School of Music Choir Conductor: Clive McClelland

Johannes Brahms - A German Requiem, op 45

On July 7th 1871 a group of students from the Royal Academy of Music assembled at the grand house of Sir Henry Thompson in Wimpole St, London. They were to give what was to be the first performance of the Brahms Requiem in English, with a newly-arranged piano accompaniment for piano duet made by the composer himself. This has become known as the London Version, and pre-dates the orchestrally-accompanied English premiere given on April 2nd 1873. Subsequently an accompaniment arranged for two pianos was made, which more fully exploits the sonorities available. It is this version that the students of our Choral Project will perform.

This will be the last Choral Project directed by Clive McClelland, who is due to retire later this year after more than thirty years at the University. He would like to welcome students past and present to this event, especially anyone who has sung with him previously.