Ann Rome (contralto), Howard Wintle (tenor), Lois Turner (pianoforte)

This fine ballad was written by Brahms the year before he died, and is one of a set of six pieces which represent his genius as a writer for the keyboard at its highest. The middle section is particularly noteworthy for its wealth of key-colour. William Murdoch in his book on the composer draws attention to the fact that this section is in the key of B major, of which Brahms was particularly fond: 'I should think', says Mr. Murdoch, 'he enjoyed writing in it more than in any other, and he never used it to greater purpose than here. A feeling of warmth and lusciousness is produced, an atmosphere of repose'.