Composer

:

Robert Schumann

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1840

Average_duration

:

1:18

"Frage" (Question) is a song composed by Robert Schumann, Op. 35/9. It was composed in 1840 as part of his song cycle "Dichterliebe" (A Poet's Love), which consists of sixteen songs set to poems by Heinrich Heine. The premiere of "Dichterliebe" took place on December 16, 1840, in Leipzig, with the tenor Julius Stockhausen and Schumann himself at the piano. "Frage" is the ninth song in the cycle and is characterized by its simplicity and directness. The song is in A-flat major and is marked "Sehr langsam" (very slow). The piano accompaniment is sparse, with a simple arpeggio pattern that repeats throughout the song. The vocal line is also simple, with a range of only a fifth and a half, and the melody is mostly stepwise. The poem that "Frage" is set to is a simple question: "When I look into your eyes, what do they say to me?" Schumann's setting of the poem is similarly direct, with the melody and accompaniment working together to convey the simplicity and sincerity of the question. The song is also notable for its use of silence, with pauses between phrases that allow the question to hang in the air. Overall, "Frage" is a beautiful example of Schumann's ability to convey complex emotions through simple means. Its directness and simplicity make it a standout in the "Dichterliebe" cycle and a beloved song in the art song repertoire.

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