Download A Conductor’s Historical and Contextual Introduction to

ABSTRACT
CREATIVE PROJECT: A Conductor’s Historical and Contextual Introduction to
Brahms’s Op. 17, Four Songs for Women’s Chorus, Two Horns, and Harp.
STUDENT: Renae Timbie
DEGREE: Master of Music
COLLEGE: Fine Arts
DATE: May 2012
PAGES: 18
This paper is a guide for choral conductors interested in sharing contextual
background of Brahms’s Op. 17 to a performing ensemble or audience. The paper
focuses solely on the historical and contextual influences to the creation of Op. 17
without discussing theoretical, musical, or gestural issues. The research drawn from
primary sources provides first-hand accounts of rehearsals and performances, as
well as the character and interests of the composer. Subjects covered include
Brahms’s early compositional life including his early music studies and his other
early choral compositions. It also discusses the function of women’s choruses at the
time, and the formation and early performances of the Hamburger Frauenchor.
Lastly, it covers a textual and instrumental overview of the four-movement set. All
these considerations create a valuable context for a choral conductor preparing an
ensemble for the performance of Brahms's Op. 17.