Composer

:

Richard Strauss

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Compose Date

:

1894

Average_duration

:

3:49

"Ruhe, meine Seele" (Rest, my soul) is a Lied (art song) composed by Richard Strauss in 1894. It is the first of his Opus 27, a set of four songs for voice and piano. The song is based on a poem by Karl Henckell, a German poet and writer. The premiere of "Ruhe, meine Seele" was on November 22, 1894, in Berlin, with the famous soprano Lilli Lehmann as the soloist. The song was an instant success and became one of Strauss's most popular Lieder. The song is in the key of E-flat major and has a slow and peaceful tempo. It is divided into three sections, with the first and last sections having the same melody. The piano accompaniment is simple and delicate, with arpeggios and gentle chords that create a serene atmosphere. The first section begins with the soloist singing the first line of the poem, "Ruhe, meine Seele, dein Gott ist neben dir" (Rest, my soul, your God is beside you). The melody is lyrical and expressive, with long phrases that convey a sense of calm and comfort. The second section is more dramatic, with the soloist singing "Fühlst du nicht seine Nähe, in allem was dir begegnet?" (Do you not feel his presence in everything that happens to you?). The melody is more intense, with rising and falling lines that express the emotional depth of the text. The final section returns to the peaceful mood of the beginning, with the soloist singing "Ruhe, meine Seele, die Zeit ist kurz und der Tag ist bald zu Ende" (Rest, my soul, time is short and the day will soon be over). The melody is the same as the beginning, but with a slight variation that gives it a sense of finality. Overall, "Ruhe, meine Seele" is a beautiful and moving Lied that showcases Strauss's skill in setting poetry to music. Its peaceful and comforting melody and simple piano accompaniment make it a favorite among singers and audiences alike.

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