Composer

:

Arnold Schoenberg

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Canon

Compose Date

:

1905

Average_duration

:

2:48

Arnold Schoenberg's "O dass der Sinnen doch so viele sind" is a song cycle composed in 1929. The premiere of the work took place on May 17, 1930, in Vienna, with the composer himself conducting. The cycle consists of six movements, each of which sets a poem by the German poet Stefan George. The first movement, "O dass der Sinnen doch so viele sind," is a lively and playful setting of a poem that celebrates the richness and variety of sensory experience. The second movement, "Ich darf nicht dankend," is a more introspective and melancholy piece that explores the theme of unrequited love. The third movement, "In diesen Wintertagen," is a somber and reflective setting of a poem that meditates on the passing of time and the inevitability of death. The fourth movement, "Ich und du," is a passionate and intense duet between two lovers, with the music shifting between moments of tenderness and moments of conflict. The fifth movement, "Die Zeitlose," is a haunting and ethereal setting of a poem that imagines a timeless and eternal realm beyond the limitations of human experience. The final movement, "Dein Angesicht," is a powerful and dramatic setting of a poem that explores the theme of spiritual transcendence. Throughout the cycle, Schoenberg's music is characterized by his distinctive atonal style, with dissonant harmonies and complex rhythms that reflect the emotional intensity of the poetry. The vocal writing is highly expressive, with wide leaps and intricate melodic lines that require a skilled and sensitive singer. Overall, "O dass der Sinnen doch so viele sind" is a challenging and rewarding work that showcases Schoenberg's mastery of the art song genre.

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