Composer

:

Ludwig van Beethoven

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1810

Average_duration

:

2:24

'Hide Not Thy Anguish, WoO 152/16' is a vocal work composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1816. The piece was premiered in Vienna in the same year. It consists of a single movement and is written for a solo voice and piano accompaniment. The piece is characterized by its melancholic and somber tone, which is reflected in the lyrics. The text, written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, speaks of the pain and suffering of unrequited love. The opening lines, "Hide not thy anguish, / O heart that bleedest so," set the tone for the rest of the piece. The piano accompaniment is sparse and understated, allowing the voice to take center stage. Beethoven's use of chromaticism and dissonance adds to the emotional intensity of the piece. The vocal line is also marked by its expressive leaps and melodic contours, which convey the sense of longing and despair in the text. Despite its relatively short length, 'Hide Not Thy Anguish' is a powerful and moving work that showcases Beethoven's skill as a composer of vocal music. Its emotional depth and musical sophistication make it a standout piece in the composer's oeuvre.

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