The German Requiem is Brahms's largest work, written for orchestra, chorus and two soloists. It made Brahms an international name, and the scope and technique of the composition brought him not only a new audience but also comparison with Bach and Beethoven. This detailed study examines its history (especially its deep links with the past) and controversial reception, analyses its textual and musical structure, and discusses performing traditions from Brahms's time until the present, including eight recorded performances made over the last fifty years.