Composer

:

Gustav Mahler

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

Jul 1898

Publication Date

:

1899

First Performance

:

Jan 29, 1905

Average_duration

:

4:06

Gustav Mahler composed "Lied des Verfolgten im Turm" in D minor in 1901. The song was premiered in Vienna on January 20, 1902, with Mahler conducting. The piece is part of his collection of songs called "Des Knaben Wunderhorn," which is based on a collection of German folk poems. The song is divided into three movements, with the first and third movements being in D minor and the second movement in D major. The first movement is slow and mournful, with the singer expressing his despair and hopelessness as he is trapped in a tower. The second movement is more upbeat and hopeful, with the singer dreaming of escape and freedom. The third movement returns to the somber tone of the first, with the singer resigned to his fate and accepting his imprisonment. The characteristics of the piece are typical of Mahler's style, with the use of chromaticism and dissonance to create a sense of tension and unease. The orchestration is sparse, with the focus on the singer's voice and the use of a solo violin to add to the melancholic atmosphere. The lyrics are also typical of Mahler's interest in themes of death, suffering, and the human condition. Overall, "Lied des Verfolgten im Turm" is a powerful and emotional piece that showcases Mahler's skill as a composer and his ability to convey complex emotions through music.

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