Composer

:

Anton Webern

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1899 - 1903

Average_duration

:

3:01

Anton Webern's "Nachtgebet der Braut" is the second of three poems in his "3 Gedichte" (3 Poems) for voice and piano. The composition was completed in 1908 and premiered in Vienna on March 22, 1910. The piece is characterized by Webern's use of atonality, which was a revolutionary technique at the time. The vocal line is highly dissonant and fragmented, with the piano providing sparse and angular accompaniment. The text, written by Richard Dehmel, is a prayer of a bride on her wedding night, asking for protection and guidance from God. The piece is divided into three movements, each with its own distinct character. The first movement begins with a sparse piano introduction, followed by the entrance of the vocal line. The vocal line is highly fragmented, with the singer pausing frequently between phrases. The piano provides angular accompaniment, with dissonant chords and sparse melodic fragments. The second movement is more lyrical, with a flowing vocal line and more sustained piano accompaniment. The vocal line is still highly dissonant, but the overall effect is more melodic and expressive. The final movement returns to the sparse and fragmented style of the first movement. The vocal line is highly disjointed, with the singer pausing frequently between phrases. The piano provides angular accompaniment, with dissonant chords and sparse melodic fragments. The piece ends abruptly, with the singer holding a high note before abruptly stopping. Overall, "Nachtgebet der Braut" is a highly experimental and challenging piece, both for the singer and the listener. Webern's use of atonality and fragmented melodies was groundbreaking at the time, and the piece remains a landmark in the development of modernist music.

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