Composer

:

Gustav Mahler

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Compose Date

:

Dec 1883 - 1885

Publication Date

:

1897

First Performance

:

Mar 16, 1896

Average_duration

:

4:06

"Ging heut'morgens übers Feld" is a song composed by Gustav Mahler in 1896. It is the fourth song in his song cycle "Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen" (Songs of a Wayfarer), which was composed between 1883 and 1885. The song cycle is based on Mahler's own poems, which tell the story of a young man who has been rejected by his lover and is wandering through the countryside, experiencing various emotions along the way. The premiere of "Ging heut'morgens übers Feld" was in 1896, performed by the baritone Anton Sistermanns and the composer himself on the piano. The song is in A minor and has a moderate tempo. It is divided into three sections, with the first and third sections being in the same tempo and the second section being slower. The first section of the song begins with a simple, folk-like melody played by the piano. The baritone enters with the first line of the poem, "Ging heut'morgens übers Feld" (I went this morning over the field), and sings in a gentle, introspective manner. The melody is characterized by its rising and falling intervals, which give it a sense of longing and yearning. The second section of the song is slower and more contemplative. The piano plays a descending melody, while the baritone sings of the beauty of nature and the sadness he feels at being separated from his lover. The melody is more chromatic in this section, with a sense of wandering and uncertainty. The third section of the song returns to the tempo and melody of the first section. The baritone sings of the joy he feels at being in nature and the hope that he will one day be reunited with his lover. The melody is more triumphant in this section, with a sense of resolution and optimism. Overall, "Ging heut'morgens übers Feld" is a beautiful and poignant song that captures the emotions of a young man who is struggling with heartbreak and finding solace in nature. Mahler's use of melody and harmony is masterful, creating a sense of longing, sadness, and hope that is both universal and deeply personal.

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