Composer

:

Hugo Wolf

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

Oct 30, 1888

Average_duration

:

3:05

Hugo Wolf's 'Harfenspieler III (Goethe Lieder)' is a song cycle composed in 1888. It premiered in Vienna in the same year. The cycle consists of three movements, each of which is based on a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The first movement, 'Wer sich der Einsamkeit ergibt' (Whoever gives himself to solitude), is a melancholic and introspective piece. The music is slow and mournful, with a sense of longing and isolation. The lyrics speak of the beauty of solitude, but also of the pain and sadness that can come with it. The second movement, 'Anakreons Grab' (Anacreon's Grave), is a more lively and upbeat piece. The music is fast and playful, with a sense of joy and celebration. The lyrics speak of the Greek poet Anacreon, who was known for his love of wine and women. The poem imagines Anacreon's grave as a place of revelry and merriment, where his spirit lives on in the pleasures of life. The third and final movement, 'Mein Wagen rollet langsam' (My carriage rolls slowly), is a somber and reflective piece. The music is slow and mournful, with a sense of resignation and acceptance. The lyrics speak of the passage of time and the inevitability of death. The poem imagines the speaker's journey through life as a slow and steady carriage ride, with death waiting at the end. Overall, 'Harfenspieler III (Goethe Lieder)' is a powerful and emotional song cycle that showcases Hugo Wolf's skill as a composer. The music is deeply expressive and perfectly captures the mood and tone of Goethe's poetry. It remains a beloved and influential work in the classical music canon.

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