Composer

:

Hanns Eisler

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1929 - 1931

Hanns Eisler's 'Lieder (6) for voice & orchestra, Op. 28' is a collection of six songs composed between 1933 and 1934. The songs were premiered in Berlin in 1935, with the composer conducting the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra. The songs are based on poems by Bertolt Brecht, who was a close collaborator of Eisler. The first song, 'An den kleinen Radioapparat' (To the Little Radio), is a satirical commentary on the power of mass media. The second song, 'Ballade von der Krüppelgarde' (Ballad of the Cripple Brigade), is a protest against the use of disabled soldiers in war. The third song, 'Die Ballade vom Wasserrad' (The Ballad of the Waterwheel), is a critique of industrialization and its impact on the environment. The fourth song, 'Die Ballade vom Nigger Jim' (The Ballad of Nigger Jim), is a reimagining of Mark Twain's 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' from the perspective of Jim, a slave. The fifth song, 'Die Ballade von der Judenhure Marie Sanders' (The Ballad of Marie Sanders, the Jewish Whore), is a condemnation of anti-Semitism and the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany. The final song, 'Solidaritätslied' (Solidarity Song), is a call to action for workers to unite and fight against oppression. The song became an anthem for the German labor movement and was later adopted by socialist and communist movements around the world. Eisler's 'Lieder (6) for voice & orchestra, Op. 28' is characterized by its political and social commentary, as well as its use of Brecht's poetry. The songs are musically diverse, ranging from satirical cabaret-style tunes to more somber ballads. The use of orchestra adds depth and complexity to the songs, highlighting the emotional intensity of the lyrics. Overall, 'Lieder (6) for voice & orchestra, Op. 28' is a powerful and thought-provoking collection of songs that reflect the political and social climate of Germany in the 1930s.

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