Composer

:

Edvard Grieg

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1896

Publication Date

:

1908

Average_duration

:

2:52

"I Loved Him" is a song composed by Edvard Grieg, a Norwegian composer, in 1885. The song is part of his collection of songs titled "Haugtussa," which is based on a poem by Arne Garborg. The premiere of the song was in 1895, performed by the Norwegian soprano, Eva Nansen. The song is a part of the second movement of the "Haugtussa" song cycle, which consists of six songs. The song cycle is based on the story of a young girl named Veslemøy, who falls in love with a man named Jon. The cycle explores the themes of love, nature, and the supernatural. "I Loved Him" is a slow and melancholic song that expresses the pain and sadness of unrequited love. The song is in the key of E minor and is written for a solo voice and piano accompaniment. The piano accompaniment is simple and repetitive, with a descending melody that creates a sense of longing and sadness. The song begins with a soft and gentle piano introduction, followed by the entrance of the solo voice. The melody is simple and lyrical, with a range of emotions expressed through the use of dynamics and phrasing. The lyrics of the song express the pain and sadness of unrequited love, with lines such as "I loved him, oh, so dearly, but he loved me not at all." The second verse of the song is more intense, with the solo voice rising to a higher register and the piano accompaniment becoming more complex. The melody becomes more passionate, with the lyrics expressing the pain of rejection and the desire to forget the person who is causing the pain. The final verse of the song returns to the gentle and melancholic melody of the beginning, with the solo voice expressing a sense of resignation and acceptance. The song ends with a soft and gentle piano coda, bringing the cycle to a close. Overall, "I Loved Him" is a beautiful and emotional song that captures the pain and sadness of unrequited love. Grieg's use of simple melodies and repetitive piano accompaniment creates a sense of longing and sadness, while the lyrics express the complex emotions of love and rejection.

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