Composer

:

Franz Joseph Haydn

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1795

Average_duration

:

3:13

Franz Joseph Haydn's "The Slave's Lament" is a solo vocal work composed in 1775. It was premiered in London in 1791, and is part of a collection of Scottish songs that Haydn arranged for voice and piano. The work is in three movements, with the first and third being slow and mournful, while the second is more lively and dance-like. The text of "The Slave's Lament" was written by Robert Burns, a Scottish poet, and tells the story of a slave who longs for his homeland. The first movement begins with a simple piano accompaniment, which sets the somber mood for the piece. The vocal line is expressive and full of longing, with the slave lamenting his fate and dreaming of his home. The second movement is more upbeat, with a lively piano accompaniment and a vocal line that is more rhythmic and dance-like. The slave sings of happier times, when he was free and able to dance and sing with his fellow countrymen. The final movement returns to the mournful mood of the first, with a slow and somber piano accompaniment and a vocal line that is full of sorrow and despair. The slave sings of his longing for death, as he can no longer bear the pain of his captivity. The work ends with a final, mournful phrase that fades away into silence. Overall, "The Slave's Lament" is a powerful and emotional work that showcases Haydn's skill as a composer. The use of Scottish folk melodies and the expressive vocal line make it a memorable piece that continues to be performed and admired today.

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