Composer

:

Viktor Ullmann

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Average_duration

:

2:22

"Immer inmitten" is a chamber cantata composed by Viktor Ullmann in 1943. The piece was premiered in the Theresienstadt concentration camp in 1944, where Ullmann was imprisoned. The cantata consists of three movements and is scored for soprano, alto, tenor, and bass soloists, as well as a mixed choir and a chamber orchestra. The first movement, "Immer inmitten," is a setting of a poem by Friedrich Hölderlin. The music is characterized by a mournful, introspective mood, with the soloists and choir singing in unison at times and in harmony at others. The orchestration is spare, with the strings providing a somber backdrop for the vocal lines. The second movement, "Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornets Christoph Rilke," is a setting of a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke. The music is more lively and rhythmic than the first movement, with the soloists and choir singing in a more declamatory style. The orchestration is more varied, with the woodwinds and brass providing a more prominent role. The third movement, "Die Weise von Liebe und Tod des Cornets Christoph Rilke II," is a continuation of the second movement, with the same text and musical material. However, the music is more subdued and introspective, with the soloists and choir singing in a more hushed and mournful manner. The orchestration is similar to the first movement, with the strings providing a somber backdrop for the vocal lines. Overall, "Immer inmitten" is a haunting and introspective work, reflecting the difficult circumstances under which it was composed and premiered. The spare and somber orchestration, combined with the mournful vocal lines, creates a sense of melancholy and introspection that is characteristic of Ullmann's music.

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