Composer

:

Robert Schumann

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1840

Average_duration

:

1:28

"Schöne Fremde, Op. 39/6" is a song composed by Robert Schumann in 1840. It is part of his song cycle "Liederkreis, Op. 39," which consists of twelve songs set to poems by Joseph von Eichendorff. The song cycle was composed during Schumann's "Liederjahr" or "Year of Song," where he composed over 140 songs. "Schöne Fremde" is the sixth song in the cycle and was premiered in Leipzig on December 1, 1842, with the tenor Julius Stockhausen and Schumann himself at the piano. The song is in the key of A-flat major and has a moderate tempo. The song is divided into three distinct sections or movements. The first section is marked "Sehr innig und nicht zu rasch" (very intimately and not too fast) and features a flowing piano accompaniment that sets the dreamy and wistful mood of the song. The second section is marked "Etwas bewegter" (somewhat more animated) and features a more agitated piano accompaniment that reflects the speaker's longing for the "beautiful stranger" who has captured his heart. The final section is marked "Immer noch bewegter" (still more animated) and features a more dramatic and passionate piano accompaniment that reflects the speaker's intense emotions. The song's text is a poem by Joseph von Eichendorff that tells the story of a speaker who is captivated by a beautiful stranger he sees in a dream. The speaker longs to be with the stranger and describes the beauty of the foreign land where she resides. The song's melody and accompaniment capture the dreamy and wistful mood of the poem, as well as the speaker's intense emotions. Overall, "Schöne Fremde, Op. 39/6" is a beautiful and expressive song that showcases Schumann's skill as a composer of lieder. Its flowing melody and dreamy piano accompaniment perfectly capture the mood of the poem, and its three distinct sections add depth and complexity to the song's emotional journey.

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