Composer

:

Johannes Brahms

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1894

Average_duration

:

2:03

"Ich weiss mir'n Maidlein hübsch und fein" is a lied composed by Johannes Brahms in 1862. The piece was premiered in Vienna in 1863, with the composer himself at the piano and the baritone Julius Stockhausen as the singer. The song is part of a collection of 49 folk songs that Brahms arranged for voice and piano, known as the Deutsche Volkslieder, WoO 33. The song is in the key of G major and has a moderate tempo. It is written in a simple A-B-A form, with the A section being repeated at the end. The piano accompaniment is light and delicate, with arpeggiated chords and a flowing melody. The vocal line is lyrical and expressive, with a range of emotions conveyed through the text. The text of the song is a traditional German folk poem, which tells the story of a young man who is searching for a beautiful and virtuous maiden to be his wife. He describes the qualities he is looking for in a bride, including her physical appearance, her character, and her skills as a homemaker. The song ends with the young man declaring that he has found the perfect maiden and is ready to marry her. The characteristics of Brahms' arrangement of this folk song are typical of his style as a composer. He was known for his love of folk music and his ability to incorporate elements of it into his classical compositions. In this piece, he stays true to the simple and straightforward nature of the original poem, while adding his own musical flourishes to enhance the emotional impact of the text. Overall, "Ich weiss mir'n Maidlein hübsch und fein" is a charming and delightful example of Brahms' skill as a composer and arranger of folk songs. Its gentle melody and heartfelt lyrics make it a beloved piece of German art song repertoire.

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