Composer

:

Fanny Mendelssohn

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

Dec 28, 1827

Publication Date

:

1830

Average_duration

:

1:30

"Verlust Und wüssten's die Blumen" is a song composed by Fanny Mendelssohn in 1846. It premiered in Berlin on March 15, 1847, with Fanny's sister, the famous composer Felix Mendelssohn, accompanying on the piano. The song is part of a collection of six songs, Op. 3, which Fanny published under the pseudonym "Gianella" due to the societal constraints placed on women composers during the 19th century. The song is written for a solo voice and piano and is in the key of A minor. It consists of three stanzas, each with a different melody and mood. The first stanza is slow and mournful, with the voice and piano in unison. The second stanza is more agitated, with the piano playing a fast and intricate accompaniment while the voice sings a melody that rises and falls dramatically. The third stanza returns to the mournful mood of the first, with the voice and piano once again in unison. The lyrics of the song are a poem by Heinrich Heine, a German poet known for his romantic and often melancholic works. The poem tells the story of a lover who has lost his beloved and is wandering through a garden, where he sees the flowers blooming and wonders if they would still bloom if they knew of his sorrow. The poem is a meditation on the transience of life and the inevitability of loss. Fanny Mendelssohn's setting of the poem captures the melancholic mood of the text while also showcasing her skill as a composer. The intricate piano accompaniment and the dramatic shifts in melody and mood demonstrate her ability to create complex and emotionally powerful music. The song is a testament to Fanny's talent as a composer and her ability to create works that are both beautiful and deeply moving.

More....