Composer

:

Franz Schubert

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1827

Average_duration

:

2:15

"Die Krähe" is a song composed by Franz Schubert as part of his song cycle "Winterreise," D. 911/15, Op. 89/15. The song cycle was composed in 1827, just a year before Schubert's death, and premiered in Vienna in 1828. "Die Krähe" is the fifteenth song in the cycle and is set to a poem by Wilhelm Müller. The song is in the key of A minor and is marked "Langsam" (slow). It is a mournful and haunting piece, with a simple piano accompaniment that sets the mood for the bleak and desolate landscape described in the poem. The vocal line is also simple, with a narrow range and a repetitive melody that emphasizes the sense of despair and hopelessness. The poem tells the story of a crow that follows the protagonist on his journey through the winter landscape. The crow is a symbol of death and the protagonist is haunted by its presence, feeling that it is a sign of his impending demise. The final lines of the poem are particularly poignant: "Krähe, lass mich endlich seh'n / Treue bis zum Grabe!" (Crow, let me finally see / Faithfulness until the grave!) Overall, "Die Krähe" is a powerful and moving piece of music that captures the sense of despair and hopelessness that pervades the "Winterreise" cycle. Schubert's use of simple melodies and sparse accompaniment allows the emotion of the text to shine through, making it a masterpiece of the art song genre.

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