Composer

:

Hanns Eisler

Genre

:

Miscellaneous

Style

:

Miscellaneous

Average_duration

:

1:26

Hanns Eisler's "Mutter Beimlein" is a song cycle composed in 1935, with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht. The premiere of the work was in Berlin in 1935, with the composer himself at the piano. The cycle consists of six movements, each of which is a setting of a poem by Brecht. The first movement, "Mutter Beimlein," is a lullaby sung by a mother to her child. The second movement, "Die Heimkehr," tells the story of a soldier returning home from war, only to find that his wife has left him for another man. The third movement, "Die Ballade vom Wasserrad," is a ballad about a water wheel that is used to grind grain, but also serves as a metaphor for the exploitation of workers. The fourth movement, "Die Ballade vom Nigger Jim," is a ballad about a slave who escapes from his master and finds freedom in the North. The fifth movement, "Die Ballade von der Judenhure Marie Sanders," tells the story of a Jewish woman who is forced into prostitution by the Nazis. The final movement, "Die Ballade vom angenehmen Leben," is a satirical ballad about the bourgeoisie and their comfortable lives. The music of "Mutter Beimlein" is characterized by Eisler's use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies, which reflect the political and social themes of Brecht's poetry. The piano accompaniment is often sparse and angular, providing a stark contrast to the vocal melodies. The vocal lines themselves are often declamatory, with a strong emphasis on rhythm and phrasing. Overall, "Mutter Beimlein" is a powerful and politically charged work that reflects the turbulent times in which it was composed. Through the combination of Brecht's poetry and Eisler's music, the cycle offers a poignant commentary on the social and political issues of the day.

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