2 Strings for 1

Behind the music:

“2 Gesänge Op. 91” by Johannes Brahms features the notable “Geistliches Wiegenlied” (Sacred Lullaby). This piece was composed in 1864 and combines viola with alto voice, setting it apart in Brahms’ chamber music repertoire. The text, derived from a Spanish poem translated by Emanuel Geibel, reflects a mother’s soothing of her child amidst a storm, symbolizing peace in troubled times. This composition was a gift to the famous violinist Joseph Joachim and his wife, mezzo-soprano Amalie Joachim, marking both their wedding and the birth of their son.