The sequence of the three songs by Johannes Brahms reflected guitaristically in this edition allows for their coherent performance, as a small triptych of grief and consolation, lasting about 12 minutes; at the same time, each of the pieces may stand on its own just as well.

A Klage, “lament”, in Brahms’ Lieder und Gesänge op. 69 the second piece so titled, increasingly enriched and thus ever more pressing, opens the cycle. An answer to it is found in Dein blaues Auge, from Brahms’ Lieder und Gesänge op. 59, a song which in wondrous fashion seems to offer soothing coolness and warmth alike; a rather direct transfer of the original music is followed by a transfiguration to tremolo. In stiller Nacht takes up Brahms’ choral and solo versions of the song. Klage here has become something external. Like singing from afar, it finds resonance in the self’s own ear and offers a final perspective.

The arrangements are accompanied by an essay on the history and aesthetics of “Brahms on guitar”.

Alexander Lotzow