Wiegenlied, Op. 49, No. 4

Guten Abend, gute Nacht - Lullaby - Cradle Song

This famous Wiegenlied, Op. 49, No. 4 was composed by Johannes Brahms in 1867-1868.

It was first published in Berlin in 1868 as the fourth of five lieders in Brahms' Fünf Lieder, Op. 49.

This Wiegenlied is a cradle song also known as Brahms' Lullaby or Guten Abend, gute Nacht [Good evening, good night].

The lyrics of the first verse are borrowed from Das Knaben Wunderhorn, a collection of German folk poems.

The lyrics of the second verse were written by Georg Scherer (1824-1909) in 1849.

The melody of Brahms' Lullaby is one of the most famous and recognizable throughout the world, and it is used by parents to sing their babies to sleep.

The Lullaby is dedicated to Bertha Faber, a friend of Brahms', on the occasion of the birth of her second son.

In her youth, Brahms had been in love with her, and he constructed the melody of the Wiegenlied to suggest, as a hidden countermelody, a song that she used to sing to him.

Brahms Wiegenlied, Op. 49, No. 4 was first performed in Vienna on December 22, 1869, by singer Louise Dustmann and pianist Clara Schumann.

This lieder was originally composed in the key of E flat Major.

This score is a transcription for alto voice with piano accompaniment.

It is set in the key of B flat Major (a perfect fourth below the original).

The vocal range is Bb3-Bb4.

It is appropriate for Grade 4 alto singers.

Duration : 01:58

Source : Johannes Brahms, Fünf Lieder, Op. 49 (Berlin, 1868)