Composer

:

Richard Strauss

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1929

Average_duration

:

5:27

"Vom künftigen Alter" (From the Future Age) is a song composed by Richard Strauss in 1929. It is the first of six songs in his Opus 87, which were all composed in the same year. The song was premiered on October 20, 1929, in Berlin, with the baritone Heinrich Schlusnus and the composer himself at the piano. The song is written for voice and piano and is set to a poem by the German poet Hermann Hesse. The poem reflects on the inevitability of aging and the fear of losing one's youth and vitality. The music is characterized by a melancholic and introspective mood, with a slow and expressive tempo. The piano accompaniment is sparse and delicate, with a few dissonant chords that add to the sense of unease and uncertainty. The song is divided into three sections, each with a different mood and tempo. The first section is marked "Sehr langsam" (very slow) and sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The second section is marked "Etwas bewegter" (somewhat more animated) and features a more rhythmic and lively piano accompaniment. The final section returns to the slow tempo of the opening, with the voice and piano gradually fading away into silence. Overall, "Vom künftigen Alter" is a poignant and introspective work that reflects on the universal theme of aging and mortality. Strauss's music perfectly captures the mood and sentiment of Hesse's poem, creating a haunting and unforgettable musical experience.

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