Composer

:

Ferruccio Busoni

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

Mar 1919

Publication Date

:

1919

First Performance

:

Oct 6, 1920

Average_duration

:

1:31

Ferruccio Busoni's "Lied des Mephistopheles, KiV 278a" is a vocal work composed in 1901. It premiered in Berlin on December 15, 1901, with Busoni himself at the piano. The piece is part of a larger work, "Faust Symphony," which Busoni composed between 1888 and 1910. The "Lied des Mephistopheles" is the third movement of the "Faust Symphony" and is sung by the devil himself, Mephistopheles. The text is taken from Goethe's "Faust" and is a monologue in which Mephistopheles boasts about his power and influence over humanity. The piece is characterized by its dark and ominous tone, which is conveyed through Busoni's use of dissonant harmonies and chromaticism. The piano accompaniment is also highly virtuosic, with rapid runs and arpeggios that add to the sense of unease. The vocal part is equally challenging, with a wide range and demanding vocal lines that require a strong and agile voice. The text is delivered in a declamatory style, with Mephistopheles' arrogance and malevolence coming through in every phrase. Overall, the "Lied des Mephistopheles" is a powerful and dramatic work that showcases Busoni's skill as both a composer and a pianist.

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