Brahms' "Elf Choralvorspielen" (11 Chorale Preludes), Op.122, were the last works he wrote. The final two of this set (in A and in F) are both based on "Herzlich tut' mich verlangen" and "O Welt", which is Op.122 number 3, is also in F. Number 10 is, in my opinion, one of the most exquisite chorale preludes ever written and fit to be considered alongside such superlative works of J.S. Bach as the chorale prelude on "Herr Gott, nun schleuss den Himmel auf", BWV617.
Brahms wrote no music in the last months of his life, but his final composition had been an organ prelude on the Lutheran chorale, “O world, I must leave thee.” He expected it to be his last, though he did not let on to others that he knew himself to be finished. When news of Brahms’ death reached Hamburg, the flags of all ships in the harbor were dropped to half mast. Like his musician father, Brahms died from cancer of the liver.
Brahms' "Elf Choralvorspielen" (11 Chorale Preludes), Op.122, were the last works he wrote. The final two of this set (in A and in F) are both based on "Herzlich tut' mich verlangen" and "O Welt", which is Op.122 number 3, is also in F. Number 10 is, in my opinion, one of the most exquisite chorale preludes ever written and fit to be considered alongside such superlative works of J.S. Bach as the chorale prelude on "Herr Gott, nun schleuss den Himmel auf", BWV617.
Beautiful. It must be an early composition, from when Brahms served as an organist and choir director.
On the contrary, it's said to be the last piece he ever completed... (but, beautiful indeed!)
Actually, the collection contains some earlier compositions, too. Opus 122 is the last work published under Brahms‘ name, posthumously.
Brahms wrote no music in the last months of his life, but his final composition had been an organ prelude on the Lutheran chorale, “O world, I must leave thee.” He expected it to be his last, though he did not let on to others that he knew himself to be finished. When news of Brahms’ death reached Hamburg, the flags of all ships in the harbor were dropped to half mast. Like his musician father, Brahms died from cancer of the liver.
It’s his last composition.