Composer

:

Hugo Wolf

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Compose Date

:

Mar 21, 1888

Average_duration

:

2:49

Hugo Wolf's "Fussreise (Mörike Lieder)" is a song cycle composed in 1888. It premiered on January 27, 1889, in Vienna, Austria. The cycle consists of 53 songs, each based on a poem by Eduard Mörike. The songs are divided into three books, with the first book containing 23 songs, the second book containing 18 songs, and the third book containing 12 songs. The cycle is characterized by its use of chromaticism, dissonance, and unconventional harmonies. Wolf's music is highly expressive, with each song capturing the mood and emotion of Mörike's poetry. The songs range in style from playful and lighthearted to dark and brooding. The first book of the cycle begins with the song "Der Genesene an die Hoffnung" (The Convalescent to Hope), which sets the tone for the rest of the cycle. The song is a hopeful and optimistic ode to life, with Wolf's music capturing the joy and exuberance of the text. Other notable songs in the first book include "Auf ein altes Bild" (To an Old Picture), which features a haunting melody and a sense of nostalgia, and "Verborgenheit" (Seclusion), which is a tender and introspective song. The second book of the cycle is more introspective and melancholic than the first. The songs in this book explore themes of love, loss, and death. Notable songs in this book include "Nimmersatte Liebe" (Insatiable Love), which features a haunting melody and a sense of longing, and "Erstes Liebeslied eines Mädchens" (A Girl's First Love Song), which is a tender and innocent song about first love. The third book of the cycle is the darkest and most brooding of the three. The songs in this book explore themes of death, despair, and the transience of life. Notable songs in this book include "Der Tambour" (The Drummer), which is a haunting and eerie song about a soldier's death, and "Gebet" (Prayer), which is a somber and introspective song about the inevitability of death. Overall, "Fussreise (Mörike Lieder)" is a masterful work of art that showcases Hugo Wolf's incredible talent as a composer. The cycle is a testament to the power of music to capture the essence of poetry and to evoke deep emotions in the listener.

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