Composer

:

Hanns Eisler

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1934

Average_duration

:

3:02

Die Ballade vom Wasserrad is a composition by Hanns Eisler, a German composer and political activist. The piece was composed in 1932 and premiered in Berlin the same year. It is a song cycle consisting of six movements, each of which tells a story about the struggles of the working class. The first movement, "Das Wasserrad," sets the scene with a description of a water wheel turning endlessly, representing the endless toil of the working class. The second movement, "Die Mühle," tells the story of a miller who is forced to work long hours for little pay. The third movement, "Die Spinnerin," is about a young woman who works in a textile factory and dreams of a better life. The fourth movement, "Der Schmied," tells the story of a blacksmith who is injured on the job and left unable to work. The fifth movement, "Der Bauer," is about a farmer who struggles to make ends meet in the face of drought and other hardships. The final movement, "Der Tod," is a somber reflection on the inevitability of death and the struggles of the working class. The music of Die Ballade vom Wasserrad is characterized by its use of folk melodies and simple harmonies, which reflect the working-class themes of the piece. Eisler was known for his use of music as a tool for political activism, and Die Ballade vom Wasserrad is no exception. The piece was intended to raise awareness of the struggles of the working class and to inspire social change. Overall, Die Ballade vom Wasserrad is a powerful and moving work that captures the struggles and aspirations of the working class. Its use of folk melodies and simple harmonies make it accessible to a wide audience, while its political message remains as relevant today as it was when it was first composed.

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