Composer

:

Johannes Brahms

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Average_duration

:

0:56

"Beim Abschied" (At Parting), Op. 95/3 is a vocal quartet composed by Johannes Brahms in 1886. It is the third movement of his "Vier Gesänge" (Four Songs), Op. 95, which was written for four-part mixed choir and piano. The premiere of the piece was on November 12, 1886, in Vienna, with the composer himself at the piano. The piece is a setting of a poem by Friedrich Rückert, which describes the pain of parting from a loved one. The text is full of melancholy and longing, and Brahms's music captures the emotional depth of the words perfectly. The piece is in the key of E-flat major and is marked "Andante con moto" (slowly, with motion). The vocal quartet is divided into four parts: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. The piano accompaniment is relatively simple, with a gentle arpeggio pattern that supports the voices without overpowering them. The piece begins with a solo soprano line, which is then joined by the other voices in turn. The four parts weave together in a complex and beautiful harmony, with each voice contributing to the overall texture of the piece. The emotional climax of the piece comes in the middle section, where the text describes the pain of parting. The music becomes more intense and dissonant, with the voices overlapping and intertwining in a way that reflects the emotional turmoil of the text. The final section of the piece returns to the gentler, more contemplative mood of the opening, with the voices gradually fading away into silence. Overall, "Beim Abschied" is a beautiful and moving piece of music that showcases Brahms's skill as a composer. Its emotional depth and complexity make it a favorite of choral groups and vocal ensembles around the world.

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