Composer

:

Hugo Wolf

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song Collection

Compose Date

:

Dec 3, 1891

Average_duration

:

1:33

Hugo Wolf's "Mein Liebster ist so klein (Italienisches Liederbuch)" is a song cycle composed between 1890 and 1896. The premiere of the cycle was in 1892 in Vienna, Austria. The cycle consists of 46 songs, each of which is based on a poem from Paul Heyse's collection of Italian folk poetry. The cycle is divided into two parts, with the first part consisting of 22 songs and the second part consisting of 24 songs. The songs are arranged in a way that creates a narrative arc, with the first part focusing on the joys and sorrows of love, and the second part exploring the darker aspects of love, such as betrayal and loss. The songs in the cycle are characterized by their use of chromaticism and dissonance, which create a sense of tension and unease. The vocal lines are often highly ornamented, with frequent leaps and runs, and the piano accompaniment is complex and virtuosic. One of the most famous songs in the cycle is "Auch kleine Dinge können uns entzücken" (Even small things can delight us), which is a playful and lighthearted song about finding joy in the simple things in life. Another notable song is "Wie lange schon war immer mein Verlangen" (How long has my longing always been), which is a haunting and melancholy song about unrequited love. Overall, "Mein Liebster ist so klein (Italienisches Liederbuch)" is a masterful example of Hugo Wolf's skill as a composer of lieder. The cycle is a testament to his ability to capture the complexities of human emotion through music, and it remains a beloved and influential work in the lieder repertoire.

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