Blessed Are They Compare/Contrast

Long time no see. Welcome once again to this blog if you happened to come across it. If you're one that has been around since the last few posts I will say thanks for still tuning in. Anyway, for this post, I've been asked to do a compare and contrast on the song 'Blessed Are They' by Johannes Brahms. I don't know much about it other than our band is playing this for a Remembrance Day Service. Anyway, do feel free to check out the two versions I'll be comparing if you'd like if you're not all into reading but if you don't mind hearing my personal opinion then go right ahead. The links will be under this paragraph of text. Just don't judge, everyone's opinion's different. So, without further adieu, let's get onto this compare/contrast.


First suggestion (A German Requiem, Movement 1):
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Biiu2TeMTRs

Second suggestion: (FAMU Symphonic Band: Blessed Are They):
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDBmLmT-Il0


Before we begin with the compare/contrast I will be first putting out my opinion about the suggestions.
With the first movement of A German Requiem (otherwise known as Blessed Are They), I find this song to be quite beautiful with both the instruments and the choir. The people in the background I feel gives more of a meaning compared to when the music's by itself. The music's okay, just the choir makes it better and makes the song seem more powerful. Though I find that it seems to repeat (unless this happens to be an extended version of the song), I still like this one better. The instrumentation sounds clear which I find to make them easily identifiable. I would've liked to have done this variation for the service but I guess I can't exactly makes things go my own way. But this version I will say sounds better than the second.

With FAMU Symphonic Band's variation of Blessed Are They,  I find it to be alright. It doesn't sound as great as the first variation but it still sounds rather pretty. The band does play this really well but to me it feels a little empty in the beginning. It isn't until about halfway through that it sounds a bit more like the song should be in my mind. Though it isn't as beautiful as the first variation I still say its pretty and it's truly a song that sounds beautiful enough to make people cry.

Now onto the compare and contrast, the instrumentation in this song I find to be rather similar just that the second variation probably has more emotion towards its instrumentation compared to the first variation while the first variation does better at expressing the emotions and story that comes from the song. The dynamics I find were quieter in the first variation compared to the second so I would've liked it more if the instrumentation was slightly louder in the beginning because let's admit, the choir's already loud enough to practically shut out the instrumentation entirely if they so chose to. I find instrumentation to be a key to music while voices are like the add-on of the song. It isn't exactly necessary but without music it's just a bunch of words. Aside from all that, there's nothing much else I can say.

That's all for the Compare/Contrast for this beautiful piece. Do check it out though, I do recommend it, so thanks for viewing this post and hopefully we'll hear from each other again. Meanwhile, until next time. This has been yet another post. Bye!