Composer

:

Franz Schubert

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1818

Average_duration

:

7:33

"An den Mond in einer Herbstnacht" (To the Moon on an Autumn Night) is a lied composed by Franz Schubert in 1818. The piece was premiered in Vienna in 1821, with Schubert himself accompanying the singer. The song is set to a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, which describes the speaker's contemplation of the moon on a clear autumn night. The piece is composed in the key of C minor and consists of three stanzas, each with its own musical setting. The first stanza is marked "Andante con moto" and features a simple, flowing melody in the piano accompaniment. The vocal line is characterized by long, sustained notes that convey a sense of longing and introspection. The second stanza is marked "Allegro vivace" and features a more lively, rhythmic melody in the piano accompaniment. The vocal line is more animated and expressive, with frequent leaps and changes in dynamics. The final stanza returns to the slower tempo of the first, with a more subdued and introspective mood. The piece is notable for its use of chromaticism, particularly in the piano accompaniment. Schubert employs a variety of harmonic devices to create a sense of tension and release, including sudden modulations and unexpected chord progressions. The vocal line is also marked by frequent chromaticism, with many of the notes falling outside of the diatonic scale. Overall, "An den Mond in einer Herbstnacht" is a haunting and introspective piece that showcases Schubert's skill as a composer of lieder. The piece is notable for its expressive vocal line, rich harmonies, and evocative imagery, which together create a powerful sense of longing and contemplation.

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