Composer

:

Hugo Wolf

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song Collection

Compose Date

:

1889 - 1890

Average_duration

:

105:25

Movement_count

:

44

Movement ....

Hugo Wolf's "Spanisches Liederbuch, nach Heyse und Geibel" is a song cycle composed between 1890 and 1896. The premiere of the cycle took place in Vienna in 1893. The cycle consists of 44 songs, divided into two volumes, and is based on poems by Paul Heyse and Emanuel Geibel. The songs in the cycle are characterized by their intense emotional expression and vivid imagery. Wolf's use of chromatic harmonies and unconventional tonal structures creates a sense of tension and unease that perfectly captures the passionate and often tragic themes of the poems. The first volume of the cycle consists of 25 songs, while the second volume contains 19. The songs are arranged thematically, with the first volume focusing on love and the second volume on religious and philosophical themes. The first volume opens with the song "Ach, wie lang die Seele schlummert," a hauntingly beautiful meditation on the nature of love and longing. Other highlights from the first volume include "Klinge, klinge, mein Pandero," a lively and rhythmic song about a young woman's desire for a handsome suitor, and "Wer sein holdes Lieb verloren," a poignant reflection on lost love. The second volume of the cycle is more introspective and contemplative, with songs that explore themes of faith, mortality, and the search for meaning in life. The cycle closes with the hauntingly beautiful "Herr, was trägt der Boden hier," a meditation on the transience of life and the inevitability of death. Overall, "Spanisches Liederbuch, nach Heyse und Geibel" is a masterpiece of German lieder, showcasing Hugo Wolf's exceptional talent for setting poetry to music. The cycle is a testament to the power of music to express the deepest emotions and to capture the essence of the human experience.

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