Composer

:

Franz Schubert

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1826

Average_duration

:

11:17

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

Franz Schubert's 'Gesänge aus Wilhelm Meister, D. 877, Op. 62' is a song cycle composed in 1826. It is based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's novel 'Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship' and consists of six songs. The cycle was premiered in Vienna in 1827. The first song, 'Kennst du das Land', is a lyrical and dreamy piece that sets the tone for the rest of the cycle. The second song, 'Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt', is a melancholic and introspective piece that explores the theme of longing. The third song, 'So lasst mich scheinen', is a playful and ironic piece that satirizes the idea of the artist as a misunderstood genius. The fourth song, 'Heiss mich nicht reden', is a dramatic and intense piece that explores the theme of love and its destructive power. The fifth song, 'Singen will ich', is a joyful and exuberant piece that celebrates the power of music and the artist's role in society. The final song, 'Mignon', is a haunting and poignant piece that explores the theme of death and the transience of life. The 'Gesänge aus Wilhelm Meister' is characterized by Schubert's masterful use of melody and harmony to convey the emotional depth and complexity of Goethe's text. The cycle is also notable for its use of different musical forms, including strophic, through-composed, and modified strophic forms, which add variety and interest to the cycle. Overall, the 'Gesänge aus Wilhelm Meister' is a masterpiece of the art song genre and a testament to Schubert's genius as a composer. Its enduring popularity and influence on subsequent generations of composers attest to its lasting significance in the canon of Western classical music.

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