Composer

:

Franz Schubert

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

Dec 1825

Average_duration

:

4:58

"Um Mitternacht" is a lied composed by Franz Schubert in 1826, with lyrics by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It is the third song in Schubert's Opus 88, a collection of six songs based on Goethe's poems. The song was premiered in Vienna in 1827. The song is in the key of C minor and has a slow tempo. It is divided into three sections, with the first and third sections being in C minor and the middle section in C major. The song is characterized by its dark and melancholic mood, which is emphasized by the use of minor keys and chromatic harmonies. The lyrics of the song describe a person who is wandering through the night, tormented by thoughts of death and the afterlife. The first section of the song begins with the line "Um Mitternacht hab' ich gewacht" (At midnight I awoke), and the singer describes how they are haunted by the thought of death and the fear of what lies beyond. The middle section of the song provides a brief respite from the darkness, with the singer describing a vision of a beautiful garden. However, this moment of peace is short-lived, and the final section of the song returns to the theme of death and the afterlife. Overall, "Um Mitternacht" is a powerful and haunting song that showcases Schubert's ability to capture complex emotions through music. Its use of minor keys and chromatic harmonies creates a sense of unease and tension, while the lyrics provide a poignant meditation on the nature of life and death.

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