Brahms' Lullaby
About this arrangement
Brahms wrote the Wiegenlied in 1868 for Bertha Faber, whom he had known as a young singer in Hamburg, when her second son was born. He wove into it, as a hidden counter-melody, a song she used to sing to him. Simrock published it that November, and Clara Schumann played the piano part at the first public performance in Vienna in 1869.
Before playing, find all five flats on the keyboard: B, E, A, D and G. Keep the left hand soft and even, like rocking - the melody should float over it.
Start with short loops.
Use the section list as a practice map. Start at 50% tempo, loop one section, then return to the full piece once the hand shape feels stable.
Choose Right or Left to focus on one hand. Wait for note checks the highlighted notes as you play them on the screen or a connected MIDI keyboard.
Before you practice.
01 Is Brahms' Lullaby hard to play?
The tune is easy, but this edition is in D-flat major with five flats and chords in both hands. Play the melody line alone first.
02 What is the real name of Brahms' Lullaby?
Wiegenlied (Cradle Song), Op. 49 No. 4, a song for voice and piano published in 1868.
03 Who was Brahms' Lullaby written for?
Bertha Faber, a friend from his Hamburg years, on the birth of her second son.
