Composer

:

Johannes Brahms

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

Jun 1868

Average_duration

:

1:42

Johannes Brahms composed "O liebliche Wangen, ihr mach mir Verlangen" as the fourth song in his Op. 47 collection of five songs for voice and piano. The collection was composed in 1868 and premiered in Vienna on December 22, 1869, with the composer himself at the piano. The song is set to a poem by Georg Friedrich Daumer, which speaks of the longing and desire that the speaker feels for the beloved's beautiful cheeks. The music is in the key of F major and is marked "Andante con moto" (moderately slow with motion). The song is divided into three distinct sections or movements. The first section begins with a gentle piano introduction, which sets the mood for the song. The vocal line enters with the first verse, which is sung softly and tenderly. The melody is simple and lyrical, with a rising and falling contour that reflects the speaker's longing. The second section is marked by a change in tempo and mood. The piano accompaniment becomes more agitated, and the vocal line becomes more urgent and passionate. The melody becomes more complex, with a wider range and more intricate rhythms. This section reflects the speaker's increasing desire and intensity of feeling. The final section returns to the mood of the opening, with a gentle piano accompaniment and a soft, tender vocal line. The melody is simpler and more restrained than in the second section, reflecting the speaker's resignation and acceptance of his unrequited love. Overall, "O liebliche Wangen, ihr mach mir Verlangen" is a beautiful and poignant song that showcases Brahms' skill as a composer of lieder. The music perfectly captures the emotions of the poem, from the gentle longing of the opening to the passionate desire of the middle section and the resigned acceptance of the final section.

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