Composer

:

Hugo Wolf

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

Feb 16, 1888

Average_duration

:

2:47

Hugo Wolf's 'Der Tambour (Mörike Lieder)' is a song cycle composed in 1888. It premiered in Vienna in 1891, with the composer himself at the piano. The cycle consists of six songs, each based on a poem by Eduard Mörike. The first song, "Der Tambour," tells the story of a drummer boy who is sent off to war. The music is characterized by a driving rhythm and a sense of urgency, reflecting the boy's fear and anxiety as he prepares to leave home. The second song, "Das verlassene Mägdlein," is a melancholy ballad about a young woman who has been abandoned by her lover. The music is slow and mournful, with a haunting melody that captures the sadness and despair of the protagonist. The third song, "Nimmersatte Liebe," is a playful and ironic take on the theme of unrequited love. The music is light and whimsical, with a jaunty melody that belies the bitterness of the lyrics. The fourth song, "Heimweh," is a nostalgic ode to the beauty of the countryside. The music is gentle and pastoral, with a lilting melody that evokes the peacefulness and tranquility of nature. The fifth song, "Auf ein altes Bild," is a meditation on the passage of time and the fleeting nature of youth. The music is wistful and introspective, with a haunting melody that captures the sense of loss and regret expressed in the poem. The final song, "Verborgenheit," is a hymn to the power of art to transport us to a place of beauty and peace. The music is ethereal and otherworldly, with a soaring melody that captures the sense of transcendence and spiritual uplift expressed in the poem. Overall, 'Der Tambour (Mörike Lieder)' is a masterful example of Hugo Wolf's artistry as a composer of lieder. The cycle showcases his ability to capture the emotional depth and complexity of Mörike's poetry, while also demonstrating his skill in crafting melodies that are both beautiful and expressive.

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