Composer

:

Richard Strauss

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1900

Average_duration

:

2:47

"Freundliche Vision, Op. 48/1" is a song composed by Richard Strauss in 1900. It was premiered on December 8, 1900, in Berlin, with the composer himself at the piano and the tenor Heinrich Knote as the soloist. The song is part of a collection of six songs for voice and piano, collectively known as "Sechs Lieder, Op. 48." "Freundliche Vision" is the first song in the collection and is set to a poem by the German poet Richard Dehmel. The poem describes a dream-like vision of a beautiful woman who appears to the narrator and fills him with joy and happiness. The music reflects the dream-like quality of the poem, with its flowing, lyrical melodies and lush harmonies. The song is in the key of F major and is written in a modified strophic form, with the first and last verses set to the same music and the middle verses featuring variations on the theme. The piano accompaniment is rich and complex, with arpeggiated chords and intricate figurations that support the soaring vocal line. One of the most striking characteristics of "Freundliche Vision" is its use of chromaticism. Strauss employs a wide range of chromatic harmonies and melodic inflections to create a sense of ambiguity and fluidity, reflecting the shifting emotions of the narrator as he experiences his vision. The song also features a number of vocal leaps and flourishes, which require a skilled and expressive singer to bring out their full effect. Overall, "Freundliche Vision" is a beautiful and evocative song that showcases Strauss's mastery of both melody and harmony. Its dream-like quality and use of chromaticism make it a particularly memorable and haunting work.

More....