Composer

:

Franz Schubert

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Quartet

Compose Date

:

Sep 1826

Average_duration

:

3:14

"Grab und Mond" (Grave and Moon) is a song cycle composed by Franz Schubert in 1826. The premiere of the work was not until 1867, over 30 years after Schubert's death. The cycle consists of two movements, each with three songs, and is written for voice and piano. The first movement, titled "Grave," is a set of three songs that explore themes of death and loss. The first song, "Der Tod und das Mädchen" (Death and the Maiden), is a setting of a poem by Matthias Claudius. The song is a dialogue between Death and a young girl who pleads with him to spare her life. The second song, "Der Doppelgänger" (The Double), is a setting of a poem by Heinrich Heine. The song describes a man who sees his own ghostly double in the moonlight, and is haunted by the memory of a lost love. The third song, "Totengräbers Heimweh" (Gravedigger's Longing), is a setting of a poem by Johann Gaudenz von Salis-Seewis. The song is a lament by a gravedigger who longs for the peace of death. The second movement, titled "Moon," is a set of three songs that explore themes of love and longing. The first song, "Liebesbotschaft" (Love's Message), is a setting of a poem by Ludwig Rellstab. The song describes a lover who sends a message to his beloved through the moon and the stars. The second song, "Kriegers Ahnung" (Warrior's Foreboding), is a setting of a poem by Ludwig Uhland. The song describes a warrior who has a premonition of his own death, and longs to be reunited with his beloved. The third song, "Im Abendrot" (At Sunset), is a setting of a poem by Joseph von Eichendorff. The song describes a couple who watch the sunset together, and reflect on the transience of life. The songs in "Grab und Mond" are characterized by Schubert's lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and expressive use of the piano. The cycle is notable for its exploration of themes of death and love, and for its use of poetry by some of the most important German poets of the Romantic era. Despite its late premiere, "Grab und Mond" has become one of Schubert's most beloved song cycles, and is frequently performed and recorded today.

More....