Brahms' Serenade (Ständchen) from his 5 Lieder, Op. 106 has been arranged for viola solo and piano by the world-famous violist Donald McInnes, who held a professorship at the University of Southern California from 1985 to 2014 and is known in virtually every corner of the artistic world for his appearances with major orchestras, recitals, chamber music participation, and numerous master classes.

The second of Brahms final three sets of "regular" song settings, Op. 106 demonstrates a gradual thematic motion from nostalgia toward regret. It utilizes more ternary (ABA-type). The Serenade, the first song in the set, shares its title with a previous song but uses different text. It is a very realistic musical evocation of the serenade it describes. The solo melody is gracefully arching and deliberately nostalgic in character, but the signature "strumming" in the piano accompaniment suggests an ever-present ache of regret.

Download and print the score today to gain access to this expertly edited arrangement of Brahms' Serenade (Ständchen), Op. 106, No. 1 for viola and piano by Donald McInnes!

Below is the original German text and the English translation for this song:

Der Mond steht über dem Berge,
So recht für verliebte Leut';
Im Garten rieselt ein Brunnen,
Sonst Stille weit und breit.

Neben der Mauer im Schatten,
Da stehn der Studenten drei,
Mit Flöt' und Geig' und Zither,
Und singen und spielen dabei.

Die Klänge schleichen der Schönsten
Sacht in den Traum hinein,
sie schaut den blonden Geliebten
und lispelt: "Vergiß nicht mein!"


The moon hangs over the mountain,
So fitting for love-struck people.
In the garden trickles a fountain;
Otherwise, it is still far and wide.

Near the wall, in shadows,
there stand the students three:
with flute and fiddle and zither,
they sing and play there.

The sounds waft up to the loveliest of women,
gently entering her dreams.
She gazes on her blond beloved
and whispers: "Forget me not!"