Composer

:

Robert Schumann

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1849

Average_duration

:

2:26

"Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt, Op. 98a/3" is a Lied composed by Robert Schumann in 1849. It is the third song in his song cycle "Liederkreis, Op. 39," which consists of twelve songs set to poems by Joseph von Eichendorff. The song was premiered in Leipzig on December 5, 1849, with the tenor Julius Stockhausen and Schumann himself at the piano. The song is in ABA form, with the A section being in G minor and the B section in G major. The piano accompaniment is simple and repetitive, with a descending arpeggio pattern that creates a sense of longing and melancholy. The vocal melody is lyrical and expressive, with a wide range of dynamics and emotions. The text of the song is a poem by Eichendorff that explores the theme of longing and unfulfilled desire. The first verse describes the feeling of longing as a "sweet pain" that cannot be satisfied. The second verse contrasts the speaker's own longing with the happiness of others, who seem to have found what he is still searching for. The final verse expresses the hope that someday the speaker will find what he is looking for and be able to rest. Overall, "Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt" is a poignant and introspective song that captures the Romantic spirit of longing and yearning for something beyond reach. Schumann's setting of the poem is sensitive and expressive, with a simple yet effective piano accompaniment that supports the vocal line without overpowering it.

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