Composer

:

Kurt Weill

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

May 1928 - Aug 1928

Publication Date

:

1928

First Performance

:

Aug 31, 1928

Average_duration

:

2:36

Kurt Weill's "Ballade von der sexuellen Hörigkeit" is a song cycle composed in 1927, with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht. The piece premiered in Berlin on October 4, 1927, and consists of six movements. The first movement, "Prologue," sets the tone for the piece with a haunting melody and lyrics that introduce the themes of sexual desire and the dangers of giving in to it. The second movement, "The Girl," features a seductive melody and lyrics that describe a young woman's sexual awakening and her desire for pleasure. The third movement, "The Soldier," is a dark and brooding piece that tells the story of a soldier who becomes obsessed with a prostitute and ultimately kills her. The fourth movement, "The Society Lady," is a satirical piece that pokes fun at the upper class and their hypocritical attitudes towards sex. The fifth movement, "The Young Man," is a melancholic piece that tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a woman who is already married. The final movement, "Epilogue," brings the piece full circle with a reprise of the "Prologue" melody and lyrics that warn against the dangers of sexual desire. Overall, "Ballade von der sexuellen Hörigkeit" is a powerful and provocative work that explores the complexities of human sexuality and the ways in which it can lead to both pleasure and destruction. Weill's music is both haunting and seductive, perfectly complementing Brecht's lyrics and creating a work that is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.

More....