Composer

:

Alban Berg

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

ca. 1904

Average_duration

:

2:09

Augenblicke is a song cycle composed by Alban Berg in 1925. The premiere of the work took place on 2nd October 1926 in Berlin. The cycle consists of five movements, each of which is a setting of a poem by a different author. The poems are in German, and the cycle is scored for soprano and orchestra. The first movement, "Traumgekrönt," is a setting of a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke. The music is dreamy and ethereal, with a haunting melody that is passed between the soprano and the orchestra. The second movement, "Im Zimmer," is a setting of a poem by Johannes Schlaf. The music is more agitated and restless, with a sense of unease and tension. The third movement, "Liebesode," is a setting of a poem by Otto Erich Hartleben. The music is passionate and intense, with a soaring melody that expresses the ecstasy of love. The fourth movement, "Entrückung," is a setting of a poem by Stefan George. The music is mystical and otherworldly, with a sense of transcendence and spiritual elevation. The final movement, "Betonung," is a setting of a poem by Theodor Storm. The music is more introspective and reflective, with a sense of resignation and acceptance. The cycle as a whole is characterized by Berg's use of atonality and his innovative approach to orchestration. The music is highly expressive and emotionally charged, with a sense of urgency and intensity that reflects the turbulent times in which it was composed.

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