Composer

:

Robert Schumann

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1849

Average_duration

:

2:12

"An den Abendstern" (To the Evening Star), Op. 103/4, is a song composed by Robert Schumann in 1851. It is part of his collection of six songs for voice and piano, collectively known as "Romanzen und Balladen" (Romances and Ballads), Op. 103. The song premiered on December 14, 1851, in Leipzig, Germany, with the tenor Julius Stockhausen and Schumann himself at the piano. It was published the following year by Breitkopf & Härtel. "An den Abendstern" is a setting of a poem by Friedrich Rückert, which describes the speaker's longing for a loved one who is far away. The evening star is used as a symbol of hope and comfort, as it shines in the darkness and reminds the speaker of the absent beloved. The song is in A-flat major and has a simple A-B-A form. The piano accompaniment is delicate and flowing, with arpeggios and gentle chords that evoke the peacefulness of the night sky. The vocal line is lyrical and expressive, with long phrases and subtle shifts in dynamics and tempo. The first section of the song begins with the words "O du, mein Abendstern" (Oh you, my evening star), which are repeated several times throughout the piece. The second section, marked "etwas langsamer" (somewhat slower), introduces a new melody and text that describes the speaker's yearning for the absent beloved. The final section returns to the opening melody and text, with a slight variation in the piano accompaniment. Overall, "An den Abendstern" is a tender and introspective song that showcases Schumann's gift for melody and harmony. It is a beautiful example of the Romantic Lied tradition, which combined poetry and music to express deep emotions and personal experiences.

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