Composer

:

Viktor Ullmann

Average_duration

:

3:05

"Oh si i'estois" is a song composed by Viktor Ullmann, a Czech-Austrian composer and pianist. The song is part of his Opus 34, a collection of six songs for voice and piano. Ullmann composed the song in 1943 while he was imprisoned in the Theresienstadt concentration camp. The premiere of "Oh si i'estois" took place in Theresienstadt in 1943, where Ullmann performed the song himself on the piano while the tenor, Karel Berman, sang the lyrics. The song is written in the key of F-sharp minor and has a moderate tempo. It is a setting of a poem by the French Renaissance poet Pierre de Ronsard. The song has three distinct movements. The first movement is slow and melancholic, with the piano playing a repetitive, mournful melody while the tenor sings the first stanza of the poem. The second movement is faster and more lively, with the piano playing a playful, dance-like melody while the tenor sings the second stanza of the poem. The third movement returns to the slow, mournful melody of the first movement, with the tenor singing the final stanza of the poem. The characteristics of "Oh si i'estois" reflect Ullmann's unique style, which combines elements of traditional classical music with modernist techniques. The song is characterized by its use of dissonant harmonies, unconventional chord progressions, and complex rhythms. Ullmann's use of these techniques creates a sense of tension and unease that reflects the difficult circumstances under which the song was composed. Overall, "Oh si i'estois" is a haunting and powerful work that reflects the resilience and creativity of Ullmann and other artists who continued to create art in the face of unimaginable adversity.

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