The night exerted a strong fascination on Romantic composers in particular. They saw it not only as a time of rest and sleep, but also as a symbol of longing, love and the unknown. The settings of these night poems often reflect a resigned mood. A short compilation of well-known and lesser-known compositions can be found here.
Johannes Brahms' last cycle of secular songs for a cappella mixed choir in four to six parts paints a poignant picture of transience, final happiness and lost youth. The tremendous depth of expression in the songs is captivating. In Autumn, the last piece, focusses on the transience of life and nature. With its unconventional harmonies, it’s surely one of Brahms' best secular compositions.
Resignation by Hugo Wolf: There could scarcely be a better example of how harmony can interpret a text. Fragments of melody combine with the chords, the modulations and the harmonic shifts to express the general mood of Eichdorff's poem in a unique way. Certainly not the easiest choral work, but nevertheless an expressive and popular motet.
Nachtlied (The night advances) by Max Reger is a heartfelt prayer for protection and security. In just a few short bars Reger gives voice to many human emotions, fears and longings, moving from a sombre, almost eerie beginning, through loud pleading and supplication and ultimately deep peace. Perhaps one of the most beautiful late Romantic motets.
A late Romantic composer in Berlin and successor to Mendelssohn, Albert Becker wrote many wonderful short and longer choral works. Bleibe, Abend will es werden (Stay, the evening is drawing near) is a small but very beautiful motet, eminently singable, and embodying late Romantic expressive power.
Tchaikovsky's Evening Hymn from op. 52 creates the atmosphere of the Orthodox evening liturgy through the music. An easy-to-perform piece of great sonority with an all-embracing calm.
Buchenberg's composition Kein schöner Land (No country more beautiful) could well be characterized as the re-imagining of folk songs. This romantic song with its heartfelt melody appears in a new guise with beautiful harmonies. From the choral collection Loreley (SATB). German Folk Songs.
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Rheinberger's Abendlied (Evening song) is a must-have on any list of romantic music for the evening! It was written in the composer’s youth, and it has become one of the most beloved choral works ever. Singers love its wonderful richness of sound, despite its outward simplicity, and many even sing it by heart. A favourite choice for many occasions, including when choirs meet to sing together.
