Composer

:

Hugo Wolf

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

Oct 21, 1889

Average_duration

:

2:05

'Die Spröde' is a song cycle composed by Hugo Wolf, based on poems by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The cycle was composed in 1888 and premiered in Vienna in the same year. It consists of six movements, each of which portrays a different aspect of love and relationships. The first movement, 'Gleich und Gleich', is a playful and flirtatious song in which the speaker compares himself to his beloved, suggesting that they are well-matched. The second movement, 'Anakreons Grab', is a more melancholy piece, in which the speaker mourns the loss of a lover and reflects on the fleeting nature of life. The third movement, 'Die Spröde', is the title song of the cycle and is perhaps the most famous. It is a lively and energetic piece, in which the speaker describes his attempts to win over a reluctant lover. The fourth movement, 'Beherzigung', is a more introspective piece, in which the speaker reflects on the importance of self-control in relationships. The fifth movement, 'Ganymed', is a passionate and intense song in which the speaker compares his love for his beloved to the mythological figure of Ganymede, who was taken up to the heavens by Zeus. The final movement, 'Gesang Weylas', is a more reflective piece, in which the speaker reflects on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. Overall, 'Die Spröde' is a complex and nuanced cycle that explores a range of emotions and themes related to love and relationships. Wolf's music is highly expressive and captures the nuances of Goethe's poetry, creating a powerful and evocative work that remains popular with audiences and performers alike.

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