Composer

:

Johannes Brahms

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1878

Average_duration

:

3:43

Feldeinsamkeit, Op. 86/2 is a Lied (art song) composed by Johannes Brahms in 1880. The text was written by Hermann Allmers, a German poet and friend of Brahms. The song is part of a collection of six Lieder, Op. 86, which Brahms composed for voice and piano. Feldeinsamkeit translates to "field solitude" in English, and the poem describes the peacefulness and beauty of being alone in nature. Brahms' setting of the text captures the serene and contemplative mood of the poem through his use of rich harmonies and flowing melodies. The song is in the key of E-flat major and is marked Andante con moto, which means "moderately slow and with motion." It is in a simple ABA form, with the opening and closing sections featuring the same melody and text, while the middle section provides contrast with a new melody and text. The opening section begins with a gentle piano introduction, followed by the voice entering with the first line of the poem. The melody is simple and lyrical, with a rising and falling contour that reflects the natural beauty of the surroundings described in the text. The piano accompaniment is also simple, with arpeggiated chords that create a sense of openness and space. The middle section provides contrast with a new melody and text that describes the speaker's thoughts and feelings as they contemplate the beauty of nature. The melody is more complex than the opening section, with a wider range and more intricate rhythms. The piano accompaniment is also more active, with running eighth notes that create a sense of movement and energy. The closing section returns to the melody and text of the opening section, but with a slight variation in the piano accompaniment that adds a sense of finality and resolution. The song ends with a gentle piano coda that fades away into silence, leaving the listener with a sense of peace and tranquility. Feldeinsamkeit, Op. 86/2 premiered on November 22, 1880, in Vienna, with the composer accompanying the singer. It has since become one of Brahms' most popular Lieder, beloved for its simple beauty and evocative portrayal of nature.

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