Composer

:

Gustav Mahler

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Compose Date

:

Aug 9, 1893

Publication Date

:

1899

First Performance

:

Oct 27, 1893

Average_duration

:

3:14

"Rheinlegendchen in A major" is a song composed by Gustav Mahler in 1893. It was premiered in 1894 in Hamburg, Germany. The song is part of Mahler's collection of folk poetry settings, "Des Knaben Wunderhorn," which he composed between 1888 and 1901. The song is in A major and has a simple, folk-like melody. It is structured in a strophic form, with each verse set to the same melody. The accompaniment is sparse, with a gentle, flowing piano part that supports the vocal line. The text of the song is a folk poem from the Rhineland region of Germany. It tells the story of a young girl who goes to the river to wash her clothes and sees a handsome young man. She asks him to help her with her work, and he agrees. As they work together, they fall in love and pledge to be together forever. The song has a gentle, romantic character, with a sense of innocence and simplicity. The melody is sweet and lyrical, with a sense of longing and tenderness. The piano accompaniment adds to the sense of flow and movement, creating a sense of the river's gentle current. Overall, "Rheinlegendchen in A major" is a beautiful example of Mahler's skill in setting folk poetry to music. It captures the essence of the original poem while adding Mahler's own unique musical voice.

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