Composer

:

Ludwig van Beethoven

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1784

Average_duration

:

6:03

"Seufzer eines Ungeliebten, WoO 118/1" is a song composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1795. It was premiered in Vienna in the same year. The song is part of a collection of six songs, which were published posthumously under the title "Sechs Lieder von verschiedenen Dichtern, WoO 118." The song is written for a solo voice and piano accompaniment. It is in the key of C minor and has a slow tempo. The text of the song is a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, which tells the story of a man who is in love with a woman who does not love him back. The man is tormented by his unrequited love and longs for death as a release from his suffering. The song is divided into three sections or movements. The first section is marked "Adagio" and is in the key of C minor. The piano accompaniment is sparse and melancholic, reflecting the mood of the text. The vocal line is also slow and mournful, with long, sustained notes that convey the man's despair. The second section is marked "Allegro" and is in the key of C major. The tempo is faster, and the piano accompaniment is more lively and energetic. The vocal line is also more animated, with shorter, more rhythmic phrases. This section represents a moment of hope for the man, as he imagines that his love might be reciprocated. The third section is marked "Adagio" and returns to the key of C minor. The piano accompaniment is once again sparse and mournful, and the vocal line is slow and sustained. This section represents the man's final acceptance of his fate and his longing for death as a release from his suffering. Overall, "Seufzer eines Ungeliebten, WoO 118/1" is a poignant and emotional song that captures the pain of unrequited love. Beethoven's music perfectly captures the mood of Goethe's poem, with its melancholic melodies and sparse piano accompaniment. The song is a testament to Beethoven's skill as a composer of lieder, and it remains a beloved piece in the classical repertoire.

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