Composer

:

Richard Strauss

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1903

Average_duration

:

2:09

Gefunden, Op. 56/1 is a song composed by Richard Strauss in 1901. It was premiered on November 23, 1901, in Berlin, with the composer himself at the piano and the baritone singer Anton Sistermans. The song is part of a collection of six songs, Op. 56, which Strauss composed between 1900 and 1901. Gefunden, which means "found" in German, is a poem by the German poet Friedrich Rückert. The poem tells the story of a person who has found a flower in the woods and is overwhelmed by its beauty and fragility. The person decides to take the flower home and care for it, but realizes that it will eventually wither and die. The poem ends with the person reflecting on the transience of life and the beauty that can be found in fleeting moments. The song is composed in the key of F major and has a moderate tempo. It is divided into three sections, each with a different mood and character. The first section is marked "sehr zart" (very tender) and is characterized by a gentle, flowing melody in the piano accompaniment. The singer enters with a soft, almost whispered vocal line, which gradually builds in intensity as the person becomes more and more enamored with the flower. The second section is marked "etwas bewegter" (somewhat more animated) and features a more rhythmic and energetic piano accompaniment. The singer's vocal line becomes more declamatory and forceful as the person grapples with the realization that the flower will eventually die. The final section is marked "ruhig" (calm) and returns to the gentle, flowing melody of the opening section. The singer's vocal line becomes more introspective and reflective as the person contemplates the beauty of the flower and the transience of life. Overall, Gefunden is a poignant and introspective song that reflects Strauss's skill as a composer of lieder. The song's delicate melody and sensitive accompaniment perfectly capture the mood and character of Rückert's poem, making it a beloved piece in the lieder repertoire.

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