Composer

:

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1870

Average_duration

:

3:03

"So soon forgotten (L'oublié)" is a song composed by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky in 1878. It was premiered in Moscow on January 25, 1879, with the composer himself at the piano and the baritone singer Nikolay Figner. The song is part of Tchaikovsky's collection of six romances, Op. 28, which were composed between 1875 and 1878. The song is set to a poem by Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy, a Russian writer and poet. The poem tells the story of a man who has been forgotten by his lover and left alone to suffer. The music reflects the melancholic and somber mood of the poem, with a slow and mournful melody that is carried by the piano accompaniment. The song is divided into three distinct sections or movements. The first movement begins with a slow and mournful introduction played by the piano, which sets the mood for the entire piece. The baritone enters with the first verse, singing in a low and somber tone. The melody is simple and repetitive, with a descending motif that emphasizes the sadness and despair of the lyrics. The second movement is more agitated and dramatic, with a faster tempo and a more complex piano accompaniment. The baritone sings with more intensity, expressing the anger and frustration of the protagonist. The melody is more varied and expressive, with sudden shifts in dynamics and tempo that reflect the emotional turmoil of the lyrics. The third movement returns to the slow and mournful mood of the first, with a simple and repetitive melody that emphasizes the sense of loss and abandonment. The piano accompaniment is sparse and delicate, creating a sense of emptiness and loneliness. The baritone sings with a softer and more resigned tone, expressing the acceptance of the protagonist's fate. Overall, "So soon forgotten (L'oublié)" is a powerful and emotional song that showcases Tchaikovsky's ability to capture the mood and meaning of a poem through music. The slow and mournful melody, the complex piano accompaniment, and the expressive singing of the baritone all contribute to create a haunting and unforgettable musical experience.

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