Composer

:

Felix Mendelssohn

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

Jan 24, 1824

Publication Date

:

1826 - 1827

Average_duration

:

3:33

Erntelied, Op. 8/4 is a choral work composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1826. The piece was premiered in Berlin on October 1, 1826, and was published in 1827 as part of his Sechs Lieder im Freien zu singen, Op. 8. The piece is a part song for four-part mixed choir, with a text by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The work is in the key of D major and is marked allegro moderato. The piece is divided into three sections, with the first and third sections being in D major and the middle section in B minor. The first section of the piece begins with a lively and energetic melody in the upper voices, accompanied by a simple and steady rhythm in the lower voices. The text describes the joy and excitement of the harvest season, with the fields full of ripe grain and the workers busy gathering the crops. The middle section of the piece is more subdued, with a slower tempo and a more contemplative mood. The text reflects on the passing of time and the inevitability of change, with the fields now empty and the workers gone. The final section of the piece returns to the lively and energetic mood of the opening, with a triumphant melody in the upper voices and a driving rhythm in the lower voices. The text celebrates the abundance of the harvest and the satisfaction of a job well done. Overall, Erntelied, Op. 8/4 is a joyful and celebratory piece, with a lively and energetic melody and a text that reflects on the passing of time and the cycles of nature. The piece is a testament to Mendelssohn's skill as a composer of choral music, with its intricate harmonies and dynamic contrasts.

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