Composer

:

Johannes Brahms

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1860

Average_duration

:

2:45

'Die Meere, Op. 20/3' is a song composed by Johannes Brahms in 1861. It was premiered in Vienna on January 20, 1862, with the composer himself at the piano and the baritone Julius Stockhausen as the soloist. The song is part of a collection of five songs, collectively known as 'Fünf Gesänge, Op. 20', which Brahms composed between 1858 and 1861. 'Die Meere' is the third song in the collection and is set to a poem by Friedrich Hebbel. The poem describes the vastness and power of the sea, and the song captures the mood of the poem perfectly. The song is in the key of D minor and has a slow and majestic tempo. It is divided into three distinct sections, each with its own character and mood. The first section begins with a simple and haunting melody played by the piano. The baritone enters with the first line of the poem, "Die Meere rauschen weit und breit," (The seas roar far and wide) and the piano continues to play a repetitive and hypnotic accompaniment. The melody gradually builds in intensity, and the baritone's voice becomes more forceful as he sings of the sea's power and might. The second section is more introspective and reflective. The piano plays a gentle and melancholic melody, and the baritone sings of the sea's beauty and mystery. The melody is more lyrical and expressive, and the baritone's voice is softer and more tender. The third section is a return to the opening theme, but this time it is more intense and dramatic. The piano plays a powerful and driving accompaniment, and the baritone's voice is full of passion and emotion. He sings of the sea's endlessness and its ability to inspire awe and wonder. Overall, 'Die Meere, Op. 20/3' is a powerful and evocative song that captures the majesty and mystery of the sea. Brahms' music perfectly complements Hebbel's poem, and the result is a masterpiece of Romantic music.

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