Composer

:

Hugo Wolf

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

Dec 21, 1876

Average_duration

:

1:23

Hugo Wolf's "Wenn ich in deine Augen seh" is a Lied, or art song, composed in 1888. It was premiered in Vienna on January 27, 1889, with the composer himself at the piano and the tenor Gustav Walter singing. The song is part of Wolf's Mörike-Lieder, a collection of 53 songs based on poems by Eduard Mörike. The song is in A-flat major and has a simple ABA form. The first section is slow and introspective, with a gentle piano accompaniment that sets the mood for the poem's melancholic tone. The second section is faster and more agitated, with a more complex piano accompaniment that reflects the poem's sense of longing and desire. The final section returns to the slower tempo and introspective mood of the opening, bringing the song to a quiet and contemplative close. The poem itself is a love song, expressing the speaker's deep affection for the person he is addressing. The opening lines, "Wenn ich in deine Augen seh, / So schwindet all mein Leid und Weh" (When I look into your eyes, / All my pain and sorrow vanish), set the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with images of love and longing. The second section of the song, which begins with the line "Doch wenn du sprichst: ich liebe dich!" (But when you say: I love you!), is particularly passionate, with the music and text building to a climax of intense emotion. Overall, "Wenn ich in deine Augen seh" is a beautiful example of Hugo Wolf's artistry as a composer of Lieder. The simple yet effective musical structure, combined with the poignant text, creates a powerful emotional impact that has made the song a favorite of singers and audiences alike.

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