Composer

:

Franz Schubert

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Quartet

Compose Date

:

ca. 1825

Average_duration

:

4:57

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

"Wehmut, D. 825, Op. 64/1" is a Lied composed by Franz Schubert in 1825. It is the first of three songs in his Opus 64, which were all composed in the same year. The song is set to a poem by Johann Baptist Mayrhofer, a close friend and frequent collaborator of Schubert. The premiere of "Wehmut" is not well-documented, but it is likely that Schubert performed it himself at one of the many private musical gatherings he attended in Vienna. The song was published posthumously in 1832, along with the rest of Opus 64. "Wehmut" is a relatively short song, with a duration of just over two minutes. It is in the key of E-flat major and is written for a solo voice and piano accompaniment. The song is in a simple ABA form, with the first and third sections being identical and the middle section providing a contrast. The song's title, "Wehmut," translates to "melancholy" or "sadness," and the music reflects this mood. The opening piano introduction sets a somber tone, with a descending melody that is repeated throughout the song. The vocal melody is similarly melancholic, with long, sustained notes and a sense of yearning. The text of the song is introspective and reflective, with the speaker contemplating the passing of time and the transience of life. The middle section of the song provides a contrast, with a more agitated melody and a sense of urgency in the text. However, the song ultimately returns to its initial mood of melancholy reflection. Overall, "Wehmut" is a beautiful and poignant example of Schubert's Lieder. Its simple form and expressive melody capture the essence of the Romantic era, and its themes of transience and melancholy are timeless.

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