Composer

:

Alban Berg

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

ca. 1904

Average_duration

:

1:32

Das stille Königreich (The Silent Kingdom) is a composition for voice and piano by Alban Berg. It was composed in 1907 and premiered in Vienna in 1910. The piece consists of three movements and has a total duration of approximately 10 minutes. The first movement, "Traumgekrönt" (Crowned with Dreams), is a dreamy and ethereal piece that features a slow and flowing melody. The piano accompaniment is delicate and sparse, allowing the voice to take center stage. The lyrics, written by Rainer Maria Rilke, describe a dreamlike state in which the speaker is crowned with dreams and transported to a magical kingdom. The second movement, "Schlafend trägt man mich" (Asleep, I am carried), is a more somber and introspective piece. The piano accompaniment is more complex and dissonant, reflecting the darker mood of the lyrics. The speaker describes being carried while asleep, and the sense of being disconnected from the world around them. The final movement, "Alles endet, was entstehet" (All that arises, ends), is a more upbeat and optimistic piece. The piano accompaniment is lively and energetic, and the melody is more upbeat. The lyrics describe the cyclical nature of life, and the idea that everything that arises must eventually come to an end. Overall, Das stille Königreich is a beautiful and haunting composition that showcases Berg's skill as a composer. The piece is notable for its use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies, which were groundbreaking at the time of its composition. The lyrics, written by Rilke, are also a highlight of the piece, and perfectly capture the dreamlike and introspective mood of the music.

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