Composer

:

Wolfgang Rihm

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1976 - 1977

First Performance

:

Mar 29, 1977

Average_duration

:

10:34

Movement_count

:

9

Movement ....

Wolfgang Rihm's "Hölderlin Fragments" is a song cycle for voice and piano, composed in 1998. The work is based on fragments of poetry by the German poet Friedrich Hölderlin, and is divided into six movements. The first movement, "Der Tod fürs Vaterland," is a mournful and introspective piece that sets the tone for the rest of the cycle. The second movement, "Der Ister," is more energetic and rhythmic, with the piano providing a driving accompaniment to the singer's declamatory lines. The third movement, "Der Einzige," is a haunting and atmospheric piece that features a sparse piano accompaniment and a vocal line that is often whispered or spoken. The fourth movement, "Der Wanderer," is more lyrical and melodic, with the piano providing a flowing, arpeggiated accompaniment. The fifth movement, "Der Tod des Empedokles," is a dramatic and intense piece that features a virtuosic piano part and a vocal line that ranges from quiet introspection to passionate outbursts. The final movement, "Der Abend," is a quiet and reflective piece that brings the cycle to a peaceful and contemplative close. Throughout the cycle, Rihm's music is characterized by its intense emotional expressiveness, its use of dissonance and chromaticism, and its frequent shifts in mood and tempo. The vocal line is often fragmented and disjointed, reflecting the fragmented nature of Hölderlin's poetry, and the piano accompaniment is often highly virtuosic and demanding. Overall, "Hölderlin Fragments" is a powerful and evocative work that showcases Rihm's skill as a composer and his ability to capture the essence of Hölderlin's poetry in music.

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