Composer

:

Franz Joseph Haydn

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1795

Average_duration

:

4:13

"The Posie" (H. 31a/113) is a vocal work composed by Franz Joseph Haydn in 1794. It was premiered in Vienna on May 18, 1794, at a concert organized by the Tonkünstler-Societät. The work consists of six movements, each featuring a different text and musical character. The first movement, "She never told her love," is a gentle and lyrical setting of a text by William Shakespeare. The second movement, "The spirit's song," is a lively and playful setting of a text by William Collins. The third movement, "The mermaid's song," is a haunting and mysterious setting of a text by John Gay. The fourth movement, "Sailor's song," is a rousing and energetic setting of a text by William Falconer. The fifth movement, "The wanderer's song," is a melancholy and introspective setting of a text by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The final movement, "The morning air plays on my face," is a joyful and celebratory setting of a text by James Thomson. Throughout the work, Haydn demonstrates his mastery of vocal writing, with each movement featuring a different vocal style and character. The music is characterized by its elegance, wit, and charm, as well as its expressive depth and emotional range. Overall, "The Posie" is a delightful and engaging work that showcases Haydn's skill as a composer of vocal music. Its premiere was a great success, and it has remained a popular work in the repertoire of classical vocal music ever since.

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