Composer

:

Hugo Wolf

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

Dec 4, 1891

Average_duration

:

2:19

Wie lange schon war immer mein Verlangen (Italienisches Liederbuch) is a song cycle composed by Hugo Wolf. The cycle was composed between 1890 and 1896 and premiered in 1897. The cycle consists of 46 songs, which are divided into two volumes. The first volume contains 22 songs, while the second volume contains 24 songs. The songs in the cycle are based on Italian poems from various sources, including the works of Paul Heyse, who also provided the German translations used by Wolf. The poems deal with themes such as love, longing, and the beauty of nature. The cycle is characterized by Wolf's use of chromaticism and his ability to capture the emotional content of the poems. The songs are often highly expressive, with sudden shifts in mood and tempo. Wolf's use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies creates a sense of tension and unease, which is often resolved in the final moments of the song. The first volume of the cycle begins with the song "Auch kleine Dinge können uns entzücken" (Even small things can delight us), which sets the tone for the rest of the cycle. The song is a joyful celebration of the beauty of nature and the simple pleasures of life. Other notable songs in the first volume include "Gesegnet sei, durch den die Welt entstund" (Blessed be he who created the world), which is a hymn to the power of love, and "Ich hab' in Penna einen Liebsten wohnen" (I have a lover living in Penna), which is a playful and flirtatious song. The second volume of the cycle begins with the song "Mein Liebster hat zu Tische mich geladen" (My lover has invited me to dinner), which is a humorous and lighthearted song about a woman preparing for a dinner date. Other notable songs in the second volume include "Mir ward gesagt, du reisest in die Ferne" (I was told that you were traveling far away), which is a poignant and melancholic song about separation and longing, and "Nun lass uns Frieden schließen" (Now let us make peace), which is a tender and intimate love song. Overall, Wie lange schon war immer mein Verlangen (Italienisches Liederbuch) is a masterful work of art that showcases Hugo Wolf's exceptional talent as a composer. The cycle is a testament to the power of music to capture the essence of human emotion and experience.

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