Composer

:

Alban Berg

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

2:26

"Sehnsucht III Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt" is a composition by Alban Berg, a prominent Austrian composer of the early 20th century. The piece was composed in 1901, when Berg was only 16 years old, and was premiered in Vienna in 1903. The composition is a song cycle consisting of five movements, each of which is based on a poem by a different author. The poems are all united by the theme of "Sehnsucht," a German word that can be translated as "longing" or "yearning." The poems explore various aspects of this emotion, from the pain of unrequited love to the desire for spiritual transcendence. The first movement, "Nichts ist gekommen," is based on a poem by Friedrich Rückert. It is a melancholy meditation on the emptiness of life and the futility of human striving. The music is spare and mournful, with a haunting melody that captures the sense of desolation in the poem. The second movement, "In diesem Wetter," is based on a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. It is a passionate love song, full of vivid imagery and intense emotion. The music is more complex than in the first movement, with shifting harmonies and a sense of urgency that reflects the urgency of the lover's desire. The third movement, "Schilflied," is based on a poem by Nikolaus Lenau. It is a delicate and ethereal piece, with a shimmering accompaniment that evokes the rustling of reeds in the wind. The melody is simple and haunting, capturing the sense of longing and nostalgia in the poem. The fourth movement, "Sahst du nach dem Gewitterregen," is based on a poem by Theodor Storm. It is a vivid and evocative description of a stormy night, with flashes of lightning illuminating the darkness. The music is dramatic and intense, with crashing chords and swirling arpeggios that capture the violence of the storm. The final movement, "Wir sehnen uns nach einem anderen Land," is based on a poem by Heinrich Heine. It is a hymn to the power of art to transport us to a higher realm of existence. The music is grand and majestic, with soaring melodies and rich harmonies that evoke the sense of transcendence in the poem. Overall, "Sehnsucht III Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt" is a powerful and evocative work that showcases Berg's early talent as a composer. The piece is notable for its emotional intensity, its vivid imagery, and its skillful use of musical language to convey complex emotions and ideas.

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