Composer

:

Robert Schumann

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1852 - 1853

Average_duration

:

7:32

Movement_count

:

2

Movement ....

Robert Schumann's 'Balladen (2), Op. 122' is a set of two ballads for solo piano. The composition was completed in 1853, and it premiered in Leipzig on February 28, 1854. The two movements are titled "Ballade des Harfners" and "Ballade vom Haideknaben." The first movement, "Ballade des Harfners," is based on a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The ballad tells the story of a harpist who is wandering through the forest, playing his harp and singing. The harpist is approached by a group of people who ask him to play a song for them. The harpist agrees and begins to play a mournful tune. The people are moved by the music and ask the harpist to play another song. The harpist then plays a joyful tune, and the people dance and sing along. The movement is characterized by its melancholic and introspective mood, with the use of chromatic harmonies and a slow tempo. The second movement, "Ballade vom Haideknaben," is based on a poem by Ludwig Uhland. The ballad tells the story of a young boy who is wandering through the heath, searching for his lost love. The boy is eventually reunited with his love, but they are both killed by a group of hunters. The movement is characterized by its dramatic and passionate mood, with the use of fast tempos and virtuosic piano writing. Overall, Schumann's 'Balladen (2), Op. 122' is a masterful example of his skill as a composer for solo piano. The two ballads showcase his ability to create vivid musical narratives and evoke a wide range of emotions through his music.

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