Composer

:

Viktor Ullmann

Genre

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Vocal

Style

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Song Collection

Compose Date

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1940

Liederbuch des Hafis, Op. 30 is a song cycle composed by Viktor Ullmann in 1940. The work is based on a collection of poems by the Persian poet Hafiz, which were translated into German by Hans Bethge. The premiere of the work took place in Prague in 1940, with the composer himself at the piano. The song cycle consists of twelve movements, each of which sets a different poem by Hafiz. The poems are characterized by their mystical and spiritual themes, and Ullmann's music reflects this through its use of modal harmonies and exotic scales. The songs are also notable for their intricate piano accompaniments, which often feature complex rhythms and textures. The first movement, "Ich bin von Herzen froh," sets a joyful poem about the beauty of nature and the joy of living. The second movement, "Ich bin, o Herr, in deiner Macht," is a prayer for guidance and strength in the face of adversity. The third movement, "Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen," is a meditation on the transience of life and the search for inner peace. The fourth movement, "Ich bin dein Spiegel," is a love poem that compares the beloved to a mirror that reflects the beauty of the soul. The fifth movement, "Ich bin der Wind," is a playful and whimsical song that imagines the singer as a mischievous wind that blows through the world. The sixth movement, "Ich bin der Schatten," is a haunting meditation on the nature of existence and the inevitability of death. The seventh movement, "Ich bin der Tod," is a powerful and dramatic song that personifies death as a force that brings both destruction and renewal. The eighth movement, "Ich bin die Welt," is a hymn to the beauty and wonder of the natural world. The ninth movement, "Ich bin der Einsame," is a melancholy meditation on the loneliness of the human condition. The tenth movement, "Ich bin der Liebe," is a passionate love song that celebrates the power of love to transform and uplift the soul. The eleventh movement, "Ich bin der Geist," is a mystical and otherworldly song that imagines the singer as a spirit that transcends the boundaries of time and space. The final movement, "Ich bin das Licht," is a triumphant and uplifting song that celebrates the power of the human spirit to overcome adversity and find meaning in life. Overall, Liederbuch des Hafis, Op. 30 is a powerful and deeply spiritual work that reflects Ullmann's own struggles as a Jewish composer living under Nazi occupation. The work is notable for its rich harmonies, intricate piano accompaniments, and mystical themes, and it remains an important contribution to the repertoire of 20th-century art song.

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