Composer

:

Hans Sommer

Genre

:

Vocal

Average_duration

:

3:40

Lorelei, Op. 7 is a song cycle composed by Hans Sommer, a German composer, in 1888. The premiere of the song cycle took place in Berlin in the same year. The song cycle consists of six movements, each of which is based on a poem by Heinrich Heine. The first movement, "Ich weiß nicht, was soll es bedeuten" (I do not know what it means), is a ballad that tells the story of a sailor who is lured to his death by the singing of the Lorelei, a siren-like creature who sits on a rock above the Rhine River. The second movement, "Ich wandelte unter den Bäumen" (I wandered among the trees), is a melancholic song that describes the beauty of nature and the sadness of lost love. The third movement, "Es war als hätt' der Himmel" (It was as if the sky), is a dreamy and romantic song that describes the beauty of a summer night. The fourth movement, "Ich hab' im Traum geweinet" (I wept in my dream), is a sorrowful song that describes the pain of lost love and the longing for death. The fifth movement, "Du bist wie eine Blume" (You are like a flower), is a tender and delicate love song that compares the beloved to a flower. The final movement, "Die Lorelei" (The Lorelei), is a reprise of the first movement, with a more dramatic and intense musical setting. The characteristics of Lorelei, Op. 7 are typical of the Romantic era, with its emphasis on emotion, nature, and individualism. The music is lyrical and expressive, with rich harmonies and colorful orchestration. The vocal writing is demanding, requiring a singer with a wide range and expressive abilities. The poems by Heinrich Heine are full of symbolism and imagery, and Sommer's music captures the mood and atmosphere of each poem with great sensitivity and skill. Overall, Lorelei, Op. 7 is a beautiful and evocative song cycle that showcases the talents of both the composer and the poet.

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