Composer

:

Hugo Wolf

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

May 31, 1878

Average_duration

:

1:08

Das ist ein Brausen und Heulen is a song composed by Hugo Wolf in 1888. It is part of his Mörike-Lieder, a collection of 53 songs based on poems by Eduard Mörike. The song was premiered in Stuttgart on November 4, 1888, with the composer himself at the piano. The song is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct characteristics. The first movement is marked "Sehr rasch und wild" (very fast and wild) and begins with a frenzied piano introduction that sets the tone for the entire piece. The vocal line enters with the words "Das ist ein Brausen und Heulen" (There is a roaring and howling), sung in a declamatory style that emphasizes the intensity of the storm described in the poem. The piano accompaniment is equally turbulent, with rapid arpeggios and crashing chords that evoke the chaos of the storm. The second movement is marked "Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll" (slow and yearning) and provides a contrast to the frenetic energy of the first. The vocal line is more lyrical, with long, sustained notes that convey a sense of longing and melancholy. The piano accompaniment is more subdued, with gentle arpeggios and a more restrained use of dynamics. The final movement is marked "Sehr rasch und wild wie zu Anfang" (very fast and wild, like at the beginning) and returns to the frenzied energy of the first. The vocal line is more agitated, with rapid runs and leaps that mirror the storm's increasing intensity. The piano accompaniment is similarly frenetic, with thundering chords and cascading arpeggios that build to a climactic finish. Overall, Das ist ein Brausen und Heulen is a virtuosic showcase for both the singer and pianist, with its demanding vocal line and complex piano accompaniment. It is a powerful evocation of the storm described in Mörike's poem, with its shifting moods and tempos capturing the full range of the storm's fury.

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