Composer

:

Franz Schubert

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Compose Date

:

1823

Average_duration

:

1:54

Franz Schubert's 'Lachen und Weinen' is a Lied, or art song, composed in 1823. It is the fourth song in his Opus 59 collection, which consists of six songs in total. The premiere of the Opus 59 collection took place in Vienna in 1826, with Schubert himself accompanying the singer. 'Lachen und Weinen' is a relatively short song, with a duration of around two minutes. It consists of a single strophic verse, with a simple A-B-A structure. The melody is simple and lyrical, with a gentle, flowing accompaniment that supports the vocal line. The text of the song is a poem by Friedrich Rückert, which explores the contrasting emotions of laughter and tears. The first two lines of the poem, "Lachen und Weinen zu jeglicher Stunde / Sei mein Los auf Erden" (Laughter and tears at every hour / Be my lot on earth), set the tone for the rest of the piece. The poem goes on to describe the joys and sorrows of life, and the way in which they are intertwined. Schubert's setting of the poem is characteristically sensitive and expressive. The opening phrase, with its rising and falling melody, captures the ambiguity of the text perfectly. The middle section of the song, with its more dramatic harmonies and faster tempo, reflects the more intense emotions of the poem. The final section returns to the gentler mood of the opening, bringing the song to a peaceful close. Overall, 'Lachen und Weinen' is a beautiful example of Schubert's artistry as a Lieder composer. Its simple yet profound text, combined with Schubert's sensitive and expressive setting, make it a timeless masterpiece of the genre.

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