Composer

:

Hanns Eisler

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Elegy

Average_duration

:

2:27

Hanns Eisler's "Elegies (2), No. 1, In die Städte kam ich zu der Zeit" is a composition for voice and piano, composed in 1934. The piece was premiered in Berlin in the same year, with the composer himself at the piano and the singer Ernst Busch performing the vocal part. The composition consists of two movements, both of which are settings of poems by Bertolt Brecht. The first movement, "In die Städte kam ich zu der Zeit" (At that time I came to the cities), is a reflection on the experience of living in the city, with its noise, crowds, and poverty. The poem describes the speaker's encounters with various people, from beggars to prostitutes, and their struggles to survive in the urban environment. Eisler's music captures the mood of the poem with its dissonant harmonies, angular melodies, and abrupt changes of tempo and dynamics. The piano part is particularly virtuosic, with rapid runs and arpeggios that evoke the hustle and bustle of the city. The second movement, "Legende von der Entstehung des Buches Taoteking auf dem Weg des Laotse in die Emigration" (Legend of the Origin of the Book Taoteking on the Way of Lao Tzu into Exile), is a more contemplative piece that reflects on the nature of wisdom and the role of the artist in society. The poem tells the story of Lao Tzu, the legendary founder of Taoism, who is said to have written the Tao Te Ching on his way into exile. Eisler's music is more subdued in this movement, with a slower tempo and more lyrical melodies. The piano part is still complex, but it is used more sparingly to create a sense of space and introspection. Overall, "Elegies (2), No. 1, In die Städte kam ich zu der Zeit" is a powerful and thought-provoking work that reflects the political and social concerns of its time. Eisler's music is both challenging and rewarding, with a rich variety of textures and moods that capture the complexity of Brecht's poetry. The piece remains a testament to the enduring power of art to engage with the world and inspire change.

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