Composer

:

Johannes Brahms

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1887

Average_duration

:

1:22

"Rote Abendwolken ziehn am Firmament" is a German art song composed by Johannes Brahms, Op. 103/11. The song was composed in 1886 and premiered in the same year. It is the eleventh song in Brahms' Opus 103, which is a collection of 11 songs for voice and piano. The song is set to a poem by Friedrich Rückert, which describes the beauty of the red evening clouds in the sky. The poem is divided into three stanzas, and Brahms composed three distinct musical movements to accompany each stanza. The first movement is marked "Andante con moto" and is in the key of G major. The piano accompaniment is gentle and flowing, with arpeggiated chords and a simple melody that follows the contours of the poem. The vocal line is also gentle and lyrical, with a range that spans from low G to high D. The second movement is marked "Allegro non troppo" and is in the key of E minor. The piano accompaniment is more agitated and restless, with a driving rhythm and syncopated accents. The vocal line is also more intense, with a wider range that spans from low E to high G. The third movement is marked "Andante" and is in the key of G major. The piano accompaniment returns to the gentle arpeggiated chords of the first movement, but with a more complex harmonic structure. The vocal line is also more complex, with a wider range that spans from low G to high A. Overall, "Rote Abendwolken ziehn am Firmament" is a beautiful example of Brahms' art song style. The piano accompaniment is rich and expressive, and the vocal line is lyrical and emotive. The three distinct movements capture the different moods and emotions of the poem, and the overall effect is one of beauty and serenity.

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