Fantasie für Gitarre über eine Melodie von Johannes Brahms

This fantasy for guitar on a melody by Johannes Brahms is one of the most famous lullabies in the German language, better known under the title "Wiegenlied". The text of the first verse was written by Clemens Brentano, the music was composed by Brahms in Bonn in 1868;

Georg Scherer later added a 2nd verse. The "Wiegenlied" can be found in the 'Fünf Lieder für Singstimme mit Klavierbegleitung' op. 49.

When choosing the instrument for the fantasia, the composer Frank Knabben made a conscious decision in favour of the guitar. With its intimate and delicate sound, it is ideally suited to expanding and enriching the beautiful 'Brahmsian' melody with a number of musical ideas. The work begins and ends with the original melody of the lullaby, with the guitar taking on the part of both the singing voice and the piano accompaniment.

The composer then gives free rein to his ideas, always bearing in mind that this is a lullaby. Small motifs from the original are quietly and gently developed and spun out, combined with his own ideas and lovingly modified. The music remains deliberately simple and suitable for children, but its performance is not suitable for beginners to guitar playing. Less than 60 seconds of original music are turned into 10 minutes of intensive elaboration, immediately making the listener want to hear the work again. Absolutely recommendable!

Beate Grandmer