Composer

:

Clara Wieck Schumann

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

Jun 8, 1841

Publication Date

:

1841

Average_duration

:

2:17

'Warum willst du and're fragen, Op. 12/11' is a Lied composed by Clara Wieck Schumann in 1841. It was premiered in Leipzig on January 1, 1842, with Clara herself at the piano and the singer Wilhelmine Schröder-Devrient. The song is part of a cycle of twelve Lieder, Op. 12, which Clara composed during her courtship with Robert Schumann. The song is in A-flat major and has a moderate tempo. It consists of three stanzas, each with four lines, and a coda. The text is a poem by Friedrich Rückert, which Clara set to music. The poem is about a lover who asks his beloved why she wants to know about his past relationships and whether he has loved before. The lover assures her that his love for her is pure and true and that he has never loved anyone else before. The first stanza is in a simple A-B-A form, with the first and third lines having the same melody and the second line having a contrasting melody. The second stanza is more complex, with a new melody for each line. The third stanza returns to the A-B-A form of the first stanza, but with a different melody for the third line. The coda is a short, gentle postlude that brings the song to a peaceful close. The song is characterized by its lyrical melody, expressive harmonies, and sensitive piano accompaniment. Clara's use of chromaticism and modulations adds depth and complexity to the music, reflecting the emotional complexity of the poem. The song is also notable for its use of word-painting, with the music reflecting the meaning of the text. For example, the descending melody on the word "vergangen" (past) in the second stanza suggests the idea of something fading away. Overall, 'Warum willst du and're fragen, Op. 12/11' is a beautiful and expressive Lied that showcases Clara Wieck Schumann's talent as a composer and pianist. Its emotional depth and musical sophistication make it a worthy addition to any Lieder repertoire.

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