Composer

:

Hugo Wolf

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

Nov 17, 1889

Average_duration

:

2:47

Hugo Wolf's "In dem Schatten meiner Locken (Spanisches Liederbuch)" is a song cycle composed between 1890 and 1896. The premiere of the cycle took place in Vienna in 1896, with the composer himself at the piano. The cycle consists of 44 songs, divided into two volumes, and is based on Spanish poetry translated into German by Emanuel Geibel and Paul Heyse. The cycle is characterized by its intense emotional expression, with Wolf's music capturing the passion and drama of the Spanish poetry. The songs are often highly chromatic, with complex harmonies and frequent modulations. The piano accompaniment is also highly virtuosic, with intricate figurations and rapid changes of texture. The first volume of the cycle consists of 22 songs, and the second volume consists of 22 songs as well. The songs are not arranged in any particular order, but rather are grouped thematically. The first volume includes songs about love, longing, and betrayal, while the second volume includes songs about death, religion, and the supernatural. Some of the most notable songs in the cycle include "Nun wandre, Maria," a hauntingly beautiful song about the Virgin Mary, "Klinge, klinge, mein Pandero," a lively and rhythmic song about a tambourine player, and "In dem Schatten meiner Locken," a passionate love song that gives the cycle its title. Overall, "In dem Schatten meiner Locken (Spanisches Liederbuch)" is a masterpiece of late Romantic song composition, showcasing Hugo Wolf's exceptional talent for setting poetry to music. The cycle remains a popular and frequently performed work in the art song repertoire.

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