Composer

:

Alban Berg

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1909 - 1925

Average_duration

:

2:50

"Schliesse mir die Augen beide" is a song composed by Alban Berg in 1907. It was premiered in Vienna in 1910. The song is part of a collection of seven songs titled "Sieben frühe Lieder" (Seven Early Songs) composed by Berg between 1905 and 1908. The song is written for a soprano voice and piano accompaniment. It is a slow and melancholic piece, with a haunting melody that reflects the poem's themes of death and longing. The text is a poem by Theodor Storm, a German poet from the 19th century. The song is divided into three distinct sections. The first section is marked "Sehr langsam und schmerzvoll" (very slow and painful) and sets the mood for the entire piece. The piano accompaniment is sparse, with long, sustained chords that create a sense of emptiness and longing. The soprano enters with a mournful melody that is full of yearning. The second section is marked "Etwas bewegter" (somewhat more animated) and features a more active piano accompaniment. The soprano's melody becomes more urgent and passionate, as if the speaker is pleading with the listener to close their eyes and let them go. The final section is marked "Sehr langsam" (very slow) and returns to the sparse piano accompaniment of the first section. The soprano's melody becomes more subdued and mournful, as if the speaker has resigned themselves to their fate. Overall, "Schliesse mir die Augen beide" is a haunting and beautiful song that showcases Berg's early style. The sparse piano accompaniment and haunting melody create a sense of longing and melancholy that perfectly captures the poem's themes of death and loss.

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