Composer

:

Anton Webern

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1917 - 1922

Average_duration

:

5:29

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

Anton Webern's 'Sacred Songs (5) for soprano & ensemble, Op. 15' is a collection of five songs composed between 1913 and 1917. The work was premiered in Vienna on March 4, 1924, with the composer conducting. The songs are based on religious texts, including poems by Hildegard Jone and St. John of the Cross. The first song, "Entrückung," is a setting of a poem by Hildegard Jone. It is characterized by its ethereal, otherworldly quality, with the soprano's voice floating above a delicate, shimmering accompaniment. The second song, "Die ihr schwebet," is a setting of a poem by St. John of the Cross. It is more dramatic than the first, with the soprano's voice soaring over a turbulent, dissonant accompaniment. The third song, "Herr, ich bringe dir meine Schmerzen," is a setting of a prayer by St. Ignatius of Loyola. It is the most introspective of the five songs, with the soprano's voice accompanied by sparse, haunting chords. The fourth song, "O Traurigkeit," is a setting of a poem by Hildegard Jone. It is characterized by its mournful, melancholy tone, with the soprano's voice weaving in and out of a dense, chromatic accompaniment. The final song, "Christus ist mein Leben," is a setting of a hymn by Paul Gerhardt. It is the most joyful of the five songs, with the soprano's voice soaring over a lively, dance-like accompaniment. Throughout the work, Webern employs his characteristic use of serialism, with each song based on a different twelve-tone row. The result is a work that is at once deeply spiritual and highly innovative, showcasing Webern's unique approach to composition.

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