Composer

:

Hugo Wolf

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1876

Average_duration

:

4:36

"I'm stillen Friedhof" is a song composed by Hugo Wolf in 1888. It was premiered in Vienna on January 22, 1889, with the composer himself at the piano. The song is part of Wolf's collection of Mörike-Lieder, which consists of 53 songs based on poems by Eduard Mörike. "I'm stillen Friedhof" is the 14th song in the collection and is set to a poem of the same name by Mörike. The song is in the key of E-flat major and is marked "Sehr langsam und ausdrucksvoll" (very slow and expressive). It is a somber and melancholic piece that reflects on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. The song is divided into three distinct sections or movements. The first section begins with a mournful piano introduction that sets the tone for the entire piece. The singer enters with the first line of the poem, "I'm stillen Friedhof geht's schon her" (Already we go to the quiet cemetery), and sings in a low, mournful voice. The melody is simple and repetitive, with the piano providing a steady, funeral march-like accompaniment. The second section of the song is marked by a change in tempo and mood. The singer's voice rises in pitch and intensity as he reflects on the fleeting nature of life. The piano accompaniment becomes more complex and dissonant, reflecting the singer's growing sense of unease and anxiety. The final section of the song returns to the mournful mood of the opening. The singer repeats the first line of the poem, but this time with a sense of resignation and acceptance. The piano accompaniment becomes more subdued, and the song ends on a quiet, reflective note. "I'm stillen Friedhof" is a prime example of Wolf's skill as a composer of lieder. The song is a masterful blend of music and poetry, with the music perfectly capturing the mood and meaning of Mörike's words. It is a haunting and beautiful piece that continues to be performed and admired by musicians and audiences alike.

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