Composer

:

Hugo Wolf

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

Feb 22, 1888

Average_duration

:

2:06

Hugo Wolf's "Ein Stündlein wohl vor tag (Mörike Lieder)" is a song cycle composed in 1888. The premiere of the cycle took place in Vienna in 1891. The cycle consists of 53 songs, each of which is based on a poem by Eduard Mörike. "Ein Stündlein wohl vor tag" is the 17th song in the cycle. The song is in the key of F minor and is marked "Sehr langsam und ausdrucksvoll" (very slow and expressive). The piano accompaniment is sparse and haunting, with a repeated motif that creates a sense of unease. The vocal line is similarly sparse, with long, sustained notes that convey a sense of longing and melancholy. The poem on which the song is based tells the story of a woman who wakes up before dawn to go to church. As she walks through the dark streets, she is haunted by the memory of a lover who has left her. The song captures the woman's sense of loneliness and despair, as well as her longing for the lover who has abandoned her. The song is divided into three sections. The first section sets the scene, with the woman walking through the dark streets. The second section introduces the memory of the lover, with the vocal line rising to a high note on the word "verlassen" (abandoned). The third section returns to the present, with the woman arriving at the church and praying for the strength to overcome her sorrow. Overall, "Ein Stündlein wohl vor tag" is a haunting and melancholy song that captures the sense of longing and despair that is a recurring theme in Mörike's poetry. Wolf's sparse and expressive setting of the poem creates a powerful emotional impact, making it one of the most memorable songs in the Mörike Lieder cycle.

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