Composer

:

Max Reger

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1898

Publication Date

:

1899

Average_duration

:

1:33

"Unbegehrt, Op. 31/3" is a composition by Max Reger, a German composer, pianist, and conductor. The piece was composed in 1900 and premiered on January 27, 1901, in Munich, Germany. It is part of a set of three songs for voice and piano, which also includes "Morgenlied, Op. 31/1" and "Abendlied, Op. 31/2." "Unbegehrt" is a German word that means "unwanted" or "unloved." The song is a setting of a poem by Friedrich Hebbel, a German poet and dramatist. The text describes a person who feels unloved and unwanted, and who longs for death as a release from their pain. The piece is in the key of F minor and has a slow tempo. It is divided into three sections, each with a different mood and character. The first section is marked "sehr langsam" (very slow) and is characterized by a mournful melody in the piano, which sets the somber tone of the piece. The vocal line enters with the first verse of the poem, sung in a low register and with a sense of resignation. The second section is marked "etwas bewegter" (somewhat more animated) and features a more agitated piano accompaniment. The vocal line becomes more expressive, with a sense of desperation and longing. The text describes the speaker's desire to be loved and accepted, and the music reflects this with a more intense and passionate character. The final section returns to the slow tempo of the opening, but with a sense of resignation and acceptance. The piano accompaniment is more subdued, and the vocal line becomes more introspective. The text describes the speaker's acceptance of their fate and their willingness to embrace death as a release from their pain. Overall, "Unbegehrt, Op. 31/3" is a powerful and emotional piece that reflects Reger's skill as a composer of lieder. The music perfectly captures the mood and character of the text, and the result is a haunting and unforgettable work of art.

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