Composer

:

Hugo Wolf

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

Jun 7, 1880

Average_duration

:

3:58

Hugo Wolf's "Nachruf" is a song cycle composed in 1888, with the premiere taking place in Vienna in the same year. The cycle consists of four movements, each of which is a setting of a poem by Eduard Mörike. The first movement, "Er ist's," is a lively and joyful song that celebrates the arrival of spring. The second movement, "Verborgenheit," is a more introspective and melancholic piece that explores the theme of solitude and the desire for escape from the world. The third movement, "Auf ein altes Bild," is a nostalgic and wistful song that reflects on the passing of time and the transience of life. The final movement, "Gebet," is a prayer-like piece that expresses a sense of resignation and acceptance in the face of mortality. Throughout the cycle, Wolf's music is characterized by its sensitivity to the nuances of the text, with each movement capturing the mood and meaning of Mörike's poetry in a unique and expressive way. The music is also notable for its use of chromaticism and dissonance, which create a sense of tension and emotional intensity. Overall, "Nachruf" is a powerful and moving work that showcases Wolf's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the complexities of human emotion in music.

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