Composer

:

Hugo Wolf

Genre

:

Vocal

Compose Date

:

March 29, 1890

Average_duration

:

1:50

Hugo Wolf's "Schmerzliche Wonnen und wonninge Schmerzen (Spanisches Liederbuch)" is a song cycle composed between 1890 and 1896. The premiere of the cycle took place in Vienna in 1896. The cycle consists of 44 songs, divided into two volumes, and is based on poems from the Spanish Renaissance. The poems were translated into German by Emanuel Geibel and Paul Heyse. The cycle is divided into two parts, with the first volume consisting of 22 songs and the second volume consisting of 22 songs. The songs are further divided into three groups, with the first group consisting of love songs, the second group consisting of religious songs, and the third group consisting of songs about death. The cycle is characterized by its use of chromaticism and dissonance, which create a sense of tension and unease. The songs are also characterized by their use of complex rhythms and harmonies, which reflect the emotional intensity of the poems. The first group of songs, which are love songs, are characterized by their passionate and intense emotions. The songs explore themes of love, desire, and longing, and are often filled with images of nature and the natural world. The second group of songs, which are religious songs, are characterized by their spiritual and contemplative nature. The songs explore themes of faith, devotion, and redemption, and are often filled with images of the divine and the supernatural. The third group of songs, which are songs about death, are characterized by their somber and melancholic tone. The songs explore themes of mortality, loss, and grief, and are often filled with images of darkness and despair. Overall, "Schmerzliche Wonnen und wonninge Schmerzen (Spanisches Liederbuch)" is a powerful and emotionally charged song cycle that showcases Hugo Wolf's mastery of the art song form. The cycle is a testament to the enduring power of poetry and music to express the deepest and most profound human emotions.

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