Composer

:

Max Reger

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1899

Publication Date

:

1904

Average_duration

:

2:45

Max Reger's "Schlaf, mein Kindelein" is the fourth song in his collection of 12 German Sacred Songs. The collection was composed in 1898 and premiered in the same year. The song is written for voice and piano and is a lullaby, with the text taken from a German folk poem. The song is in a simple ABA form, with the A section being a gentle lullaby melody in 6/8 time, and the B section being a more dramatic and intense section in 4/4 time. The piano accompaniment is also simple and supportive, with gentle arpeggios and occasional chordal punctuations. Reger's setting of the text is characterized by his use of chromaticism and dissonance, which add a sense of tension and unease to the otherwise peaceful lullaby. The use of chromaticism is particularly evident in the B section, where the melody and harmony become more complex and dissonant. Overall, "Schlaf, mein Kindelein" is a beautiful and poignant setting of a traditional German lullaby. Reger's use of chromaticism and dissonance adds depth and complexity to the simple melody and text, creating a sense of emotional depth and complexity that is characteristic of his style.

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