Articles
Griesheimer Explores Brahms "Nanie" at German American Museum
November 20, 2024
On Wednesday, November 20th, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, the renowned expert on German classical music, Professor James Greisheimer will present on Brahms funerary piece called Nanie, the tragedy of untimely death. Videos from event can be found below.
Professor Griesheimer says “We shall do a survey of these with particular attention to a funerary piece called Nänie. Inspired by the death of a young artist friend, Brahms draws on a poem by Schiller, a poem that laments the tragedy of untimely death. Rich in classical allusion, the fates of Euridice, Adonis and Achilles pass in review as reminders that “even the beautiful die.” The rich and complex piece ends on a note of consolation and a meditation on the mystery of immortality.”
As background: “Nänie” is a Germanized version of the Latin “nenia,” meaning a funeral ode. Schiller’s words make references to three stories from classical mythology: Orpheus and Eurydice, Venus (Aphrodite) and Adonis, and the death of Achilles, in that order. Brahms’s setting was a response to the death of his friend, the painter Anselm Feuerbach, at age 50. Feuerbach’s subjects were often based on Greco-Roman myths. It is dedicated to the painter’s stepmother. The piece is exceedingly beautiful, with a lush choral and instrumental sound, says Jim.
Professor Greisheimer states “To most music lovers, the name of Brahms evokes a great master of the symphony and, in that, the successor of Beethoven. Almost equally well known are his chamber works and piano music. It therefore is surprising to many that there is a large corpus of works for voice and especially for chorus. Many of these have keyboard accompaniment, but others are large and elaborate and have a full orchestral complement.”
Dr. Greisheimer is an emeritus professor of music from Luther College. Professor Griesheimer studied music at Ohio State, Arizona State and Indiana University. He was a principal oboist and played in symphony orchestras in Chicago, Phoenix, El Paso, Pittsburgh, Dubuque and Rochester. He taught music at New Mexico State University, Middlebury College and most recently at Luther College. He received a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Germany from 1973 to 1975. Griesheimer is a much beloved Professor of Luther College. He is known for his brilliant mind and for his absolute passion for music and music history. Jim is highly regarded by his students for his amazing grasp of all the classical composers and his analysis of classical music.
Come and enjoy Jim’s exploration of Brahms music that touches on the mystery of life and death. The Church does it in its holy days on the cusp of October and November, on All Souls Day and All Saints Day. After Jim’s presentation, enjoy great conversation, refreshments and cookies.
