Composer

:

Johannes Brahms

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1886

Average_duration

:

1:24

Johannes Brahms composed "Das Mädchen spricht, Op. 107/3" in 1886. The piece is part of a collection of six songs for voice and piano, collectively known as "Sechs Lieder, Op. 107." The premiere of the collection took place on November 22, 1886, in Vienna, with the composer himself at the piano. "Das Mädchen spricht" is the third song in the collection and is set to a poem by Felix Schumann, the son of Brahms's close friend and mentor, Robert Schumann. The poem tells the story of a young girl who is in love with a man who does not reciprocate her feelings. In the song, the girl speaks directly to her beloved, expressing her love and her pain at his rejection. The piece is in the key of A minor and is marked "Andante con moto" (moderately slow and with motion). It is in a simple ABA form, with the opening and closing sections featuring a gentle, flowing melody in the piano and a plaintive vocal line. The middle section is more agitated, with a faster tempo and a more complex piano accompaniment. One of the most striking characteristics of "Das Mädchen spricht" is its emotional intensity. Brahms's setting of Schumann's poem captures the girl's heartbreak and longing with great sensitivity and nuance. The vocal line is full of expressive leaps and sighs, while the piano accompaniment provides a rich harmonic backdrop that underscores the emotional content of the text. Overall, "Das Mädchen spricht" is a beautiful and poignant example of Brahms's artistry as a composer of lieder. Its combination of expressive melody, rich harmony, and emotional depth make it a powerful and moving work that continues to resonate with audiences today.

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