Composer

:

Hanns Eisler

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1926

Average_duration

:

16:47

Tagebuch des Hanns Eisler, Op. 9 is a song cycle composed by Hanns Eisler in 1942. The premiere of the work took place in New York City in 1943. The cycle consists of 14 movements, each of which is a setting of a poem by Bertolt Brecht. The poems were selected from Brecht's collection of poetry titled "Hauspostille." The characteristics of the music in Tagebuch des Hanns Eisler, Op. 9 are typical of Eisler's style, which is characterized by its simplicity and directness. The music is often described as being "political" in nature, as Eisler was a committed Marxist and his music often reflected his political beliefs. The music is also characterized by its use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies, which were typical of the music of the time. The movements of Tagebuch des Hanns Eisler, Op. 9 are as follows: 1. "Vorspiel" 2. "An die Nachgeborenen" 3. "Die Ballade vom Wasserrad" 4. "Die Ballade von der Krüppelgarde" 5. "Die Ballade vom Briefträger William L. Moore" 6. "Die Ballade von der Judenhure Marie Sanders" 7. "Die Ballade vom Soldaten" 8. "Die Ballade von der Unzulänglichkeit menschlichen Strebens" 9. "Die Ballade von der Erweiterung des Kampfes" 10. "Die Ballade von der Entführung" 11. "Die Ballade von der Ersten Liebe" 12. "Die Ballade von der Frage" 13. "Die Ballade von der Höllen-Lili" 14. "Die Ballade vom Nigger Jim" The poems that Eisler set to music in Tagebuch des Hanns Eisler, Op. 9 are all political in nature, and deal with themes such as war, poverty, and oppression. The music is often somber and reflective, and the lyrics are delivered in a straightforward, almost conversational style. The work is considered to be one of Eisler's most important compositions, and is still performed and studied today.

More....