Composer

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Hanns Eisler

Genre

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Miscellaneous

Style

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Miscellaneous

Average_duration

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8:45

Bilder aus der Kriegsfibel (Pictures from the War Primer) is a song cycle composed by Hanns Eisler in 1943. The work is based on a collection of photographs and poems by Bertolt Brecht, which were originally published in 1955. The premiere of Bilder aus der Kriegsfibel took place in 1944 in Moscow. The song cycle consists of 14 movements, each of which is based on a different photograph and poem from Brecht's collection. The poems are written in Brecht's signature style, which is characterized by its use of irony, satire, and social commentary. Eisler's music complements the poems by emphasizing their political and emotional content. The first movement, "The Radio Operator," is a somber reflection on the role of communication in war. The second movement, "The Bombing of Madrid," is a powerful indictment of the destruction wrought by war. The third movement, "The Dead Soldier," is a mournful tribute to the fallen soldiers of war. Other movements in the cycle include "The War Widow," "The War Profiteer," and "The War Criminal." Each movement explores a different aspect of war, from the personal tragedies of soldiers and their families to the political and economic motivations behind war. Eisler's music is characterized by its use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies. He often employs atonal and serial techniques, which were considered avant-garde at the time. The music is also highly expressive, with Eisler using a wide range of dynamics and tempos to convey the emotional content of the poems. Overall, Bilder aus der Kriegsfibel is a powerful and thought-provoking work that explores the human cost of war. Through Brecht's poetry and Eisler's music, the cycle offers a searing critique of the political and social forces that drive nations to war.

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