Composer

:

Franz Schubert

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

Sep 1816

Average_duration

:

4:32

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Franz Schubert's 'Harfenspieler III, D. 480, Op. 12/2' is a Lied, or art song, composed in 1816. It was premiered in Vienna in the same year, with Schubert himself accompanying the singer on the piano. The song is part of a larger collection of Lieder called 'Schwanengesang', which was published posthumously in 1829. The song is in three movements, with a slow introduction followed by two faster sections. The first movement is marked 'Andante con moto', and features a melancholic melody played on the piano. The singer enters with the first verse, which describes a harp player wandering through the night, playing his instrument and singing sad songs. The second movement is marked 'Allegro', and features a more lively melody. The singer describes the harp player's music as magical, able to transport the listener to another world. The final movement is marked 'Andantino', and returns to the slower tempo of the first movement. The singer describes the harp player's songs as full of longing and sadness, and wonders if he will ever find peace. The characteristics of 'Harfenspieler III' are typical of Schubert's Lieder. The piano accompaniment is complex and expressive, providing a rich harmonic background for the singer's melody. The melody itself is lyrical and expressive, with long phrases and frequent changes in dynamics and tempo. The text is also important, with Schubert carefully choosing poems that express a range of emotions and themes, from love and longing to death and despair. Overall, 'Harfenspieler III' is a beautiful and haunting example of Schubert's art song style. Its combination of expressive melody, complex piano accompaniment, and poignant text make it a powerful and moving work that continues to be performed and admired today.

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