Composer

:

Felix Mendelssohn

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

ca. 1825 - 1845

Publication Date

:

1850

Average_duration

:

1:29

Allnächtlich im Traume, Op. 86/4 is a Lied composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1844. It was premiered in Leipzig on January 14, 1845, with the composer himself at the piano and the tenor Julius Stockhausen as the soloist. The song is part of a set of six Lieder, Op. 86, which Mendelssohn composed in the last year of his life. The song is in A-flat major and has a slow and dreamy tempo. It is divided into three stanzas, each with its own melody and character. The first stanza is marked "Andante con moto" and is characterized by a flowing accompaniment in the piano and a lyrical vocal line. The second stanza is marked "Poco più lento" and is more introspective, with a more complex piano accompaniment and a more elaborate vocal line. The third stanza is marked "Andante" and returns to the mood of the first stanza, with a simpler accompaniment and a more straightforward vocal line. The text of the song is a poem by Heinrich Heine, which describes a dream in which the speaker sees his beloved, who has died, and tries to reach out to her, but she disappears. The poem is a meditation on the transience of life and the impossibility of holding on to what is gone. Mendelssohn's setting of the poem is characterized by its simplicity and elegance. The piano accompaniment is delicate and understated, providing a gentle support for the vocal line. The vocal line itself is lyrical and expressive, with a natural flow that reflects the natural rhythms of the text. The song is a testament to Mendelssohn's skill as a composer of Lieder, and to his ability to capture the emotional essence of a text in music. Overall, Allnächtlich im Traume, Op. 86/4 is a beautiful and poignant song that showcases Mendelssohn's mastery of the Lied form. Its dreamy atmosphere and expressive melody make it a favorite of singers and audiences alike, and it remains a beloved part of the Lieder repertoire to this day.

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