Composer

:

Robert Schumann

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1849

Average_duration

:

3:01

"Er und Sie, Op. 78/2" is a song composed by Robert Schumann in 1849. It was premiered in Leipzig on December 1, 1850, with the composer's wife, Clara Schumann, as the pianist. The song is part of Schumann's "Liederkreis" (song cycle) Op. 78, which consists of twelve songs set to poems by Joseph von Eichendorff. "Er und Sie" (He and She) is the second song in the cycle and is characterized by its melancholic and introspective mood. The song is written in the key of A minor and has a moderate tempo. It consists of three stanzas, each with its own melody and accompaniment. The first stanza begins with a descending melody in the piano, which sets the somber tone of the song. The singer enters with the words "Er und Sie," and the melody rises and falls in a mournful manner. The text describes a man and a woman who are separated by distance and longing for each other. The music reflects the sadness and yearning of the text, with chromatic harmonies and dissonant chords. The second stanza is more hopeful in tone, with the text describing the couple's reunion. The music becomes more lyrical and flowing, with a rising melody in the piano and a more consonant harmony. The singer's voice soars in the higher register, expressing the joy of the reunion. The final stanza returns to the melancholic mood of the beginning, with the text describing the couple's separation once again. The music becomes more dissonant and chromatic, with a descending melody in the piano and a sense of resignation in the singer's voice. Overall, "Er und Sie" is a poignant and introspective song that reflects Schumann's own struggles with mental illness and his separation from his wife. The music and text express the longing, joy, and sadness of human relationships, and the cycle as a whole is considered one of Schumann's most personal and expressive works.

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