Composer

:

Robert Schumann

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1840

Average_duration

:

1:53

"Helft mir, ihr Schwestern" (Help me, sisters) is a Lied composed by Robert Schumann in 1840. It is the fifth song in his song cycle "Frauenliebe und -leben" (A Woman's Love and Life), which consists of eight songs that depict a woman's life from falling in love to marriage and motherhood. The song premiered in Leipzig on December 15, 1840, with the soprano Wilhelmine Schröder-Devrient and Schumann himself at the piano. It is written for a solo voice and piano accompaniment. The song is in A-flat major and has a moderate tempo. It is in 3/4 time and has a simple, flowing melody. The piano accompaniment is delicate and supportive, with arpeggios and gentle chords. The text of the song is a plea for help from the woman to her sisters. She is in love and feels overwhelmed by her emotions. She asks her sisters to help her understand her feelings and to guide her through this new experience. The lyrics are by Adelbert von Chamisso, a German poet and writer. The song has two distinct sections. The first section is in A-flat major and is marked "innig" (intimate). The second section is in F minor and is marked "etwas bewegter" (somewhat more agitated). The change in key and tempo reflects the woman's emotional turmoil as she struggles to understand her feelings. Overall, "Helft mir, ihr Schwestern" is a beautiful and poignant song that captures the emotional complexity of falling in love. Schumann's sensitive and supportive piano accompaniment perfectly complements the delicate melody and heartfelt lyrics.

More....