Composer

:

Ferruccio Busoni

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

Aug 1915 - Dec 30, 1915

Publication Date

:

1916

Average_duration

:

6:35

Gesang vom Reigen der Geister, Op. 47, KiV 269 is a composition by Ferruccio Busoni, an Italian composer and pianist. The piece was composed in 1915 and premiered in Berlin in the same year. It is a single-movement work that lasts approximately 10 minutes. The composition is characterized by its use of polytonality, which is the use of multiple keys or tonal centers simultaneously. This creates a dissonant and complex sound that is typical of Busoni's style. The piece is also notable for its use of unconventional scales and harmonies, which further contribute to its unique sound. The title of the piece translates to "Song of the Dance of the Spirits" and is inspired by the German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's poem "Der König in Thule". The poem tells the story of a king who, upon his deathbed, gives his beloved goblet to the sea. The goblet is then carried away by the spirits of the sea, who dance around it in a wild and frenzied manner. Busoni's composition captures the spirit of the poem through its use of frenzied rhythms and dissonant harmonies. The piece begins with a slow and mysterious introduction, which gradually builds in intensity until the spirits are unleashed in a wild and frenzied dance. The music then subsides into a more contemplative section before building to a final climax. Overall, Gesang vom Reigen der Geister is a challenging and complex work that showcases Busoni's unique style and innovative approach to composition. Its use of polytonality and unconventional harmonies make it a landmark work in the development of modern classical music.

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