Composer

:

Felix Mendelssohn

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

Jun 1833

Publication Date

:

1839

Average_duration

:

2:59

"Bei der Wiege" (At the Cradle) is a Lied (art song) composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1839. It is the sixth song in his Opus 47 collection of six Lieder. The song was premiered in Leipzig on January 1, 1840, with the composer himself at the piano and the tenor Julius Stockhausen as the vocalist. The song is set to a poem by Emanuel Geibel, which tells the story of a mother singing a lullaby to her child. The melody is gentle and soothing, with a simple piano accompaniment that mimics the rocking of a cradle. The vocal line is lyrical and expressive, with a range of dynamics and phrasing that reflects the emotions of the mother. The song is in ABA form, with the A section being the lullaby and the B section being a more dramatic and emotional passage. The A section is in 6/8 time and is marked "Andante con moto" (moderately slow with motion). The melody is in a lilting rhythm that imitates the rocking of a cradle. The B section is in 2/4 time and is marked "Più animato" (more animated). The melody is more dramatic and emotional, with a range of dynamics and phrasing that reflects the mother's anxiety and fear for her child. The characteristics of "Bei der Wiege" are typical of Mendelssohn's Lieder. The melody is lyrical and expressive, with a range of dynamics and phrasing that reflects the emotions of the text. The piano accompaniment is simple and supportive, with occasional flourishes that add color and interest. The song is a beautiful example of Mendelssohn's ability to capture the essence of a text and set it to music in a way that is both sensitive and powerful.

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