Composer

:

Viktor Ullmann

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

1:31

"I vis, ie meurs" is a composition by Viktor Ullmann, a Jewish composer who was imprisoned in the Theresienstadt concentration camp during World War II. The piece is part of his Opus 34, which consists of six songs for voice and piano. "I vis, ie meurs" is the third song in the cycle and was composed in 1943. The premiere of the Opus 34 songs took place in Theresienstadt in 1943, with Ullmann himself accompanying the singer. The cycle was later performed in Prague in 1944, after Ullmann had been deported to Auschwitz and then to Theresienstadt. "I vis, ie meurs" is a setting of a poem by the French poet Paul Verlaine. The title translates to "I see, I die" and the poem explores themes of love, death, and the fleeting nature of life. Ullmann's setting of the poem is haunting and melancholic, with a sparse piano accompaniment that emphasizes the starkness of the text. The song is in a slow tempo and is marked "molto espressivo" (very expressive). The vocal line is lyrical and expressive, with long phrases that require a skilled singer to sustain. The piano accompaniment is spare and atmospheric, with occasional dissonances that add to the sense of unease and melancholy. Overall, "I vis, ie meurs" is a powerful and poignant work that reflects Ullmann's experiences as a prisoner in a concentration camp. The piece is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable hardship and tragedy.

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