Composer

:

Hugo Wolf

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

Jan 2, 1889

Average_duration

:

7:19

Prometheus (Goethe Lieder) is a song cycle composed by Hugo Wolf in 1889. The cycle consists of six songs, each of which is based on a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The premiere of the cycle took place in Vienna in 1890. The first song, "Prometheus," is a dramatic and powerful piece that sets the tone for the rest of the cycle. The second song, "Grenzen der Menschheit," is a more introspective piece that explores the limits of human knowledge and understanding. The third song, "Ganymed," is a beautiful and lyrical piece that celebrates the joys of love and nature. The fourth song, "Schlafendes Jesuskind," is a gentle and tender lullaby that reflects on the innocence and vulnerability of childhood. The fifth song, "Das Göttliche," is a more philosophical piece that explores the nature of divinity and the human quest for transcendence. The final song, "Prometheus II," is a reprise of the first song, but with a more subdued and reflective tone. Overall, the cycle is characterized by its rich and complex harmonies, its use of chromaticism and dissonance, and its intense emotional expressiveness. Wolf's settings of Goethe's poetry are masterful, capturing the full range of the poet's themes and moods. The cycle is a testament to Wolf's skill as a composer and his deep understanding of the human condition.

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