Composer

:

Hugo Wolf

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

Nov 4, 1888

Average_duration

:

3:10

"Anakreons Grab" is a song cycle composed by Hugo Wolf, based on the poems of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The cycle was composed in 1888 and premiered in Vienna in the same year. The cycle consists of six songs, each of which is a setting of a poem by Goethe. The first song, "Anakreons Grab," is a setting of Goethe's poem of the same name. The poem is a meditation on the death of the ancient Greek poet Anacreon, and the transience of life. The music is mournful and introspective, with a slow, mournful melody that is repeated throughout the song. The second song, "Der Jüngling und der Tod," is a setting of Goethe's poem about a young man who encounters Death and is forced to confront his own mortality. The music is dark and brooding, with a sense of foreboding and impending doom. The third song, "Phidile," is a setting of Goethe's poem about a young woman who is in love with a man who does not return her affections. The music is light and playful, with a sense of longing and unrequited love. The fourth song, "Ganymed," is a setting of Goethe's poem about the mythological figure Ganymede, who was taken to Mount Olympus by Zeus to serve as his cupbearer. The music is ethereal and otherworldly, with a sense of wonder and awe. The fifth song, "Der Schäfer," is a setting of Goethe's poem about a shepherd who is in love with a woman who is unattainable. The music is pastoral and idyllic, with a sense of longing and unrequited love. The final song, "Auf dem Hügel sitz ich spähend," is a setting of Goethe's poem about a man who sits on a hill and watches the world go by. The music is contemplative and introspective, with a sense of detachment and resignation. Overall, "Anakreons Grab" is a cycle of songs that explores themes of love, death, and the transience of life. The music is varied and expressive, with a range of moods and emotions that reflect the different poems. The cycle is a testament to Hugo Wolf's skill as a composer, and his ability to capture the essence of Goethe's poetry in music.

More....