Composer

:

Franz Schubert

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

Dec 26, 1811

Average_duration

:

8:13

"Der Vatermörder" (The Patricide) is a song composed by Franz Schubert in 1811, when he was just 14 years old. It is one of his earliest known compositions and was premiered in Vienna in 1821. The song is set to a poem by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer, a close friend and frequent collaborator of Schubert. The text tells the story of a young man who has murdered his father and is now haunted by guilt and remorse. The music is dark and brooding, reflecting the somber mood of the text. The song is in three movements, with a slow introduction followed by a fast and dramatic main section, and a final slow coda. The first movement is marked "Adagio" and is in the key of C minor. It begins with a mournful melody played by the piano, which is then taken up by the voice. The second movement is marked "Allegro" and is in the key of C major. It is a fast and furious section, with the piano playing a driving rhythm while the voice sings the text with great intensity. The final movement is marked "Adagio" and returns to the key of C minor. It is a slow and mournful section, with the piano playing a simple accompaniment while the voice sings a melody that is both haunting and beautiful. The characteristics of "Der Vatermörder" reflect Schubert's early style, which was heavily influenced by the music of Mozart and Haydn. The song is characterized by its dramatic contrasts of mood and tempo, its use of chromatic harmonies, and its expressive use of melody and text. It is a powerful and emotionally charged work that foreshadows the great works that Schubert would go on to compose in the years to come.

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