Composer

:

Johannes Brahms

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Canon

Average_duration

:

0:51

Johannes Brahms composed "Zu Rauch mus werden" in two versions, WoO 30. The first version was composed in 1860, and the second version was composed in 1873. The piece was premiered in 1860 in Hamburg, Germany. The piece consists of two movements. The first movement is a setting of a poem by Friedrich Rückert, and the second movement is a setting of a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The first movement is marked "Andante con moto," and the second movement is marked "Allegro non troppo." The first movement begins with a gentle, flowing melody in the piano, which is soon joined by the voice. The melody is simple and lyrical, with a melancholy quality that reflects the poem's theme of transience and impermanence. The piano accompaniment is delicate and supportive, providing a gentle harmonic framework for the voice. The second movement is more lively and energetic than the first. The piano introduces a lively, syncopated rhythm, which is soon joined by the voice. The melody is more complex and varied than in the first movement, with a greater range of dynamics and expression. The piano accompaniment is more active and virtuosic, with rapid arpeggios and cascading runs. Overall, "Zu Rauch mus werden" is a beautiful and poignant work that showcases Brahms' skill as a composer of lieder. The two movements are contrasting in mood and character, but both are marked by Brahms' characteristic sensitivity to text and his ability to create expressive and memorable melodies.

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