Composer

:

Robert Schumann

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1840

Average_duration

:

1:48

Robert Schumann's 'In der Fremde, Op. 39/8' is a song from his song cycle 'Liederkreis, Op. 39', composed in 1840. The song cycle consists of twelve songs, all set to poems by Joseph von Eichendorff. 'In der Fremde' is the eighth song in the cycle and was premiered in Leipzig in 1843. The song is in A minor and has a slow, mournful tempo. It is written for a solo voice and piano accompaniment. The piano part is simple and repetitive, with a descending arpeggio pattern that creates a sense of longing and sadness. The vocal melody is also simple, with a narrow range and a lot of repetition. The poem that Schumann set to music is about a person who is far from home and feels lost and alone. The first verse describes the speaker's surroundings, which are unfamiliar and strange. The second verse expresses the speaker's longing for home and the people they have left behind. The final verse is a plea for someone to come and rescue the speaker from their loneliness. The song has three distinct sections, each with its own character. The first section is slow and mournful, with a sense of longing and sadness. The second section is more agitated, with a faster tempo and a sense of urgency. The final section returns to the slow, mournful character of the opening, but with a sense of resignation rather than longing. Overall, 'In der Fremde' is a beautiful and poignant song that captures the sense of loneliness and longing that comes with being far from home. Schumann's simple, repetitive melody and piano accompaniment perfectly capture the mood of the poem, making this song a masterpiece of the Romantic era.

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