Composer

:

Robert Schumann

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1840

Average_duration

:

3:05

"Mein Wagen rollet langsam" is a Lied composed by Robert Schumann, Op. 142/4. It was composed in 1849, during a period of great emotional turmoil for Schumann. The song was premiered in Leipzig on January 28, 1850, with the composer's wife, Clara Schumann, as the pianist. The song is part of Schumann's "Dichterliebe" cycle, which consists of sixteen songs set to poems by Heinrich Heine. "Mein Wagen rollet langsam" is the fourth song in the cycle and is characterized by its slow, mournful melody and melancholic lyrics. The song is in A-flat major and is marked "Langsam und schmerzvoll" (slow and painful). The piano accompaniment is sparse and simple, with a repeating pattern of broken chords that creates a sense of motion and momentum. The vocal line is similarly simple, with long, sustained notes that emphasize the mournful quality of the melody. The lyrics of the song describe a carriage ride through a dark and desolate landscape. The narrator is filled with sadness and despair, and the slow, mournful melody of the song perfectly captures the mood of the text. The final lines of the song, "Ich aber darf nicht weinen, / Und keine Klage tun" (But I must not weep, / And make no complaint), emphasize the narrator's sense of resignation and acceptance of his sorrow. Overall, "Mein Wagen rollet langsam" is a powerful and emotional song that showcases Schumann's ability to capture the mood and meaning of a text through music. Its slow, mournful melody and melancholic lyrics make it a standout piece in the "Dichterliebe" cycle and a favorite among Schumann's Lieder.

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