Composer

:

Franz Liszt

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1845 - 1859

Publication Date

:

1848 - 1859

Franz Liszt's 'Der Hirt' is a set of two songs for voice and piano, composed in 1860. The first song, 'Der Hirt' (The Shepherd), is the more well-known of the two and was premiered in Weimar on December 2, 1860, with Liszt accompanying the singer, Julius Stockhausen. The second song, 'Der Hirt auf dem Felsen' (The Shepherd on the Rock), was composed shortly after and premiered in Berlin on January 12, 1861, with the singer, Pauline Viardot, and clarinetist, Heinrich Bärmann. The first song, 'Der Hirt,' is a setting of a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The text describes a shepherd who is content with his simple life in nature, tending to his flock and enjoying the beauty of the world around him. Liszt's setting is gentle and pastoral, with a flowing piano accompaniment that evokes the peacefulness of the countryside. The vocal line is lyrical and expressive, with long phrases that reflect the shepherd's contentment and joy. The second song, 'Der Hirt auf dem Felsen,' is a more complex work that combines voice, piano, and clarinet. The text, by Wilhelm Müller and Karl August Varnhagen von Ense, tells the story of a shepherd who is separated from his love and must endure the loneliness of the mountains. Liszt's setting is dramatic and emotional, with a piano accompaniment that alternates between stormy and serene. The clarinet adds a haunting quality to the music, representing the shepherd's longing and despair. The vocal line is virtuosic, with wide leaps and intricate runs that convey the shepherd's anguish and hope. Overall, 'Der Hirt' is a beautiful and evocative set of songs that showcase Liszt's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the essence of nature and human emotion in music. The first song is a simple and charming pastoral, while the second is a more complex and dramatic work that combines voice, piano, and clarinet to create a powerful and moving musical experience.

More....