Composer

:

Nikolay Medtner

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

ca. 1901 - 1905

Average_duration

:

20:27

Movement_count

:

9

Movement ....

Nikolay Medtner's 'Songs (9) of Goethe, Op. 6' is a song cycle composed in 1905. The premiere of the cycle took place in Moscow in the same year. The cycle consists of nine songs, each based on a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The songs are written for voice and piano and are characterized by their lyrical melodies and rich harmonies. The first song in the cycle, "Wandrers Nachtlied," is a gentle lullaby that sets the tone for the rest of the cycle. The second song, "Harfenspieler I," is a more dramatic piece that features a virtuosic piano part and a soaring vocal line. The third song, "Harfenspieler II," is a more introspective piece that features a haunting melody and a more subdued piano part. The fourth song, "Ganymed," is one of the most famous poems by Goethe and is set to a soaring melody that captures the sense of wonder and awe expressed in the poem. The fifth song, "Prometheus," is a more dramatic piece that features a powerful vocal line and a driving piano part. The sixth song, "Der Fischer," is a more melancholy piece that features a simple, yet beautiful melody and a delicate piano part. The seventh song, "Der Musensohn," is a more upbeat piece that features a lively piano part and a playful vocal line. The eighth song, "An den Mond," is a more introspective piece that features a haunting melody and a more subdued piano part. The final song in the cycle, "Nachtgesang," is a gentle lullaby that brings the cycle to a peaceful close. Overall, Medtner's 'Songs (9) of Goethe, Op. 6' is a beautiful and lyrical song cycle that showcases the composer's gift for melody and harmony. The cycle is characterized by its rich harmonies, soaring melodies, and virtuosic piano parts, and is a testament to Medtner's skill as a composer.

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