Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Austria

Birth

:

December 4, 1875 in Prague, Czech Republic

Death

:

December 29, 1926 in Montreux, Switzerland

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

Rainer Maria Rilke was a German-speaking poet and writer who was born in Prague, Austria-Hungary (now the Czech Republic) on December 4, 1875. He is widely regarded as one of the most important poets of the 20th century, and his works have had a profound influence on modern literature and culture. Rilke was born into a family of musicians, and his parents encouraged his interest in music from an early age. His father, Josef Rilke, was a successful composer and pianist, and his mother, Sophie Entz, was a talented singer. Rilke began playing the piano at the age of six, and he showed a natural talent for music. Despite his early interest in music, Rilke decided to pursue a career in writing. He attended the Charles-Ferdinand University in Prague, where he studied literature and philosophy. During his time at university, Rilke became involved in the local literary scene, and he began to develop his own unique style of writing. In 1895, Rilke published his first collection of poetry, entitled Leben und Lieder (Life and Songs). The collection was well-received by critics, and it established Rilke as a promising young poet. Over the next few years, Rilke continued to write poetry and prose, and he became increasingly interested in the works of other writers and artists. In 1902, Rilke traveled to Paris, where he met the sculptor Auguste Rodin. The two men struck up a friendship, and Rodin became a mentor to Rilke. Rilke was deeply influenced by Rodin's work, and he began to incorporate elements of sculpture and visual art into his own writing. In 1903, Rilke published his most famous collection of poetry, Die Aufzeichnungen des Malte Laurids Brigge (The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge). The collection is a series of prose poems that explore themes of alienation, mortality, and the human condition. The collection was a critical success, and it cemented Rilke's reputation as one of the most important poets of his generation. Throughout his career, Rilke continued to write poetry and prose, and he also became involved in various artistic and literary circles. He traveled extensively throughout Europe, and he spent time in Italy, Spain, and Russia. His experiences abroad had a profound influence on his writing, and he began to incorporate elements of different cultures and languages into his work. In addition to his writing, Rilke also had a deep interest in music. He was a close friend of the composer Alban Berg, and he wrote several librettos for operas and other musical works. He also wrote extensively about music, and he was particularly interested in the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. Rilke's interest in music is evident in many of his poems, which often feature musical themes and imagery. One of his most famous poems, "The Panther," is a meditation on the nature of captivity and freedom, and it is often interpreted as a metaphor for the human condition. The poem is notable for its use of musical language and imagery, and it has been set to music by several composers. Another of Rilke's famous poems, "The Duino Elegies," is a series of ten poems that explore themes of love, death, and the human soul. The poems are considered to be some of Rilke's most important works, and they have been set to music by several composers, including Benjamin Britten and Hans Werner Henze. Rilke's influence on modern music and culture cannot be overstated.

More....