Composer

:

Ludwig van Beethoven

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1783

Average_duration

:

2:38

"An einen Säugling" (To a Newborn Infant) is a short vocal work composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1815. The piece was written for voice and piano and is cataloged as WoO 108. It was dedicated to the daughter of Beethoven's friend, Franz Gerhard Wegeler. The piece consists of a single movement and is written in the key of C major. The vocal line is simple and lyrical, with a range of only a few notes. The piano accompaniment is also relatively simple, with a gentle, flowing melody that supports the vocal line. The text of the piece is a poem by Christoph August Tiedge, which Beethoven set to music. The poem is a tender and affectionate address to a newborn infant, expressing the hope that the child will grow up to be happy and healthy. The text is full of images of nature and the beauty of the world, and Beethoven's music captures the gentle, optimistic tone of the poem. "An einen Säugling" was first performed in 1815, but it did not receive a public premiere until 1830, after Beethoven's death. The piece is relatively unknown today, but it is a charming example of Beethoven's ability to create beautiful, expressive music even in a short, simple form.

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