During this Passover/Easter season, the aptly named New Jersey Master Chorale presented, right here in lovely Haddonfield, a masterly performance of Johannes Brahms’ masterful “Ein Deutsches Requiem,” using the original German text, under the direction of William Gorton.
As though the mountain had come to Mohammed, residents were given grand opportunity to contemplate—so close to home—the profound words and music of the unfathomable sentiments reflected in this awesome affirmation of the cycle of life. “Tod, wo ist dein Stachel?” (Death, where is thy sting?). And we were reminded of that other “lieblich Wohnung” (lovely dwelling place): the one in the hereafter.
Thank you, Master Chorale, for bringing this beloved masterpiece to Haddonfield. Und danke schön, Herr Brahms, for creating it.
Walter Weidenbacher,
Haddonfield N.J.
