Composer

:

Franz Liszt

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1845 - 1849

Publication Date

:

1860

Average_duration

:

3:35

"Es rauschen die Winde" (The Winds are Roaring) is a two-part song cycle composed by Franz Liszt in 1860. The piece is based on two poems by Nikolaus Lenau, a German-speaking Austrian poet. The first part of the cycle is titled "Es rauschen die Winde" and the second part is titled "Ich möchte hingehen." The song cycle premiered in Weimar, Germany on August 22, 1860, with Liszt himself at the piano and the tenor August Pohlenz as the vocalist. The piece was well-received by the audience and critics alike, with many praising Liszt's ability to capture the mood and imagery of Lenau's poetry. The first movement, "Es rauschen die Winde," is a dramatic and intense piece that captures the tumultuous nature of the wind. The piano accompaniment is full of swirling arpeggios and cascading runs, while the vocal line is full of long, sustained notes that rise and fall with the wind. The lyrics describe the wind as a powerful force that can both destroy and create, and Liszt's music perfectly captures this duality. The second movement, "Ich möchte hingehen," is a more introspective and melancholy piece. The piano accompaniment is more subdued, with gentle chords and delicate arpeggios. The vocal line is full of longing and sadness, as the narrator expresses a desire to leave the world behind and find peace in death. The lyrics are full of vivid imagery, with the narrator describing the beauty of the natural world and the pain of human existence. Overall, "Es rauschen die Winde" is a powerful and evocative song cycle that showcases Liszt's skill as both a composer and a pianist. The piece is full of dramatic contrasts and vivid imagery, and it remains a popular choice for vocalists and pianists alike.

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