Composer

:

Louis Spohr

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song: Art Song

Compose Date

:

1815

Publication Date

:

1817

Average_duration

:

2:50

'Vanitas! Vanitatum vanitas, Op. 41/6' is a vocal work composed by Louis Spohr, a German composer and violinist, in 1834. The piece is part of a larger collection of six songs titled "Sechs Lieder" (Six Songs), which were composed for voice and piano. The premiere of 'Vanitas! Vanitatum vanitas' is not well-documented, but it is likely that it was first performed in Germany shortly after its composition. The piece is written in German and is based on a text by the German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The work is structured in a single movement and has a duration of approximately four minutes. The piece is marked "Andante con moto" and is in the key of E-flat major. The vocal line is accompanied by a piano, which provides a simple and understated accompaniment throughout the piece. The text of 'Vanitas! Vanitatum vanitas' is a meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. The opening lines, "Vanitas! Vanitatum vanitas! / Was ist die Welt, was ihr Gewinn?" (Vanity! Vanity of vanities! / What is the world, what is its gain?), set the tone for the rest of the piece. The text goes on to describe the transience of beauty, wealth, and power, and concludes with the lines "So geht es hin, so geht es her, / Und wie es geht, so bleibt es leer" (Thus it goes, thus it comes, / And as it goes, so it remains empty). Spohr's setting of the text is simple and elegant, with a melody that is both lyrical and melancholic. The vocal line is characterized by long, flowing phrases and a sense of introspection. The piano accompaniment is sparse and unobtrusive, providing a gentle harmonic foundation for the vocal line. Overall, 'Vanitas! Vanitatum vanitas' is a poignant and reflective work that captures the essence of Goethe's text. Spohr's setting is understated and restrained, allowing the beauty of the text to shine through.

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