Eleven Chorale Preludes

Eleven Chorale Preludes, Op. 122, is a collection of works for organ by Johannes Brahms, written in 1896, at the end of the composer's life, immediately after the death of his beloved friend, Clara Schumann, published posthumously in 1902. They are based on verses of nine Lutheran chorales, two of them set twice, and are relatively short, compact miniatures. They were the last compositions Brahms ever wrote, composed around the time that he became aware of the cancer that would ultimately prove fatal; thus the final piece is, appropriately enough, a second setting of "O Welt, ich muß dich lassen."Mein Jesu, der du mich in E minor Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen in G minor O Welt, ich muß dich lassen in F major Herzlich tut mich erfreuen in D major Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele in E major O wie selig seid ihr doch, ihr Frommen in D minor O Gott, du frommer Gott in A minor Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen in F major Herzlich tut mich verlangen in A minor Herzlich tut mich verlangen in A minor O Welt, ich muß dich lassen in F major