Composer

:

Hugo Wolf

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1889 - 1891

Average_duration

:

2:44

"Elfenlied" is a song cycle composed by Hugo Wolf in 1888. The premiere of the cycle took place on January 27, 1889, in Vienna. The cycle consists of six songs, each of which is based on a poem by Eduard Mörike. The songs are written for a solo voice and piano accompaniment. The first song, "Der Feuerreiter" (The Fire Rider), is a dramatic ballad about a ghostly rider who appears to a woman and warns her of his impending arrival. The second song, "Elfenlied" (Elf Song), is a delicate and ethereal piece that describes the beauty of the elves and their magical powers. The third song, "Der Tambour" (The Drummer), is a lively and rhythmic piece that tells the story of a drummer who falls in love with a girl but is rejected by her. The fourth song, "Das verlassene Mägdlein" (The Abandoned Maiden), is a melancholic piece that tells the story of a young woman who has been abandoned by her lover. The fifth song, "Auf einer Wanderung" (On a Hike), is a cheerful and playful piece that describes a group of friends on a hike in the countryside. The final song, "Nixe Binsefuß" (Nixie Binsefoot), is a haunting and mysterious piece that tells the story of a water spirit who lures a man to his death. The songs in "Elfenlied" are characterized by their vivid imagery, emotional intensity, and musical complexity. Wolf's use of chromatic harmonies, unexpected modulations, and intricate piano accompaniments creates a rich and expressive musical landscape that perfectly complements Mörike's poetry. The cycle is considered one of Wolf's most important works and a masterpiece of the German Lied tradition.

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