5.1 Romantic Lied and Art Song
3 min read•august 6, 2024
The Romantic era saw the rise of Lieder and art songs, intimate musical forms that combined poetry and music. These genres allowed composers to express deep emotions and tell stories through the fusion of voice and piano, elevating the status of song composition.
German Lieder, pioneered by Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms, featured and expressive accompaniments. Art songs expanded beyond Germany, using various forms like strophic and , with techniques to bring poetry to life musically.
German Lieder
Origins and Characteristics of Lieder
Top images from around the web for Origins and Characteristics of Lieder
Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Mahler, Gustav) - IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download View original
Is this image relevant?
12 Lieder, Op.48 (Rubinstein, Anton) - IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download View original
Is this image relevant?
Dichterliebe - Wikipedia View original
Is this image relevant?
Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Mahler, Gustav) - IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download View original
Is this image relevant?
12 Lieder, Op.48 (Rubinstein, Anton) - IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
Top images from around the web for Origins and Characteristics of Lieder
Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Mahler, Gustav) - IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download View original
Is this image relevant?
12 Lieder, Op.48 (Rubinstein, Anton) - IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download View original
Is this image relevant?
Dichterliebe - Wikipedia View original
Is this image relevant?
Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Mahler, Gustav) - IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download View original
Is this image relevant?
12 Lieder, Op.48 (Rubinstein, Anton) - IMSLP: Free Sheet Music PDF Download View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
- is a German word meaning "song" that refers to a musical setting of a poem for solo voice and piano accompaniment
- Lieder emerged in the early 19th century as a new genre of German that combined poetry and music to express deep emotions and tell stories
- Lieder often feature simple, folk-like melodies that enhance the meaning of the text and create an intimate, expressive atmosphere
- Lieder composers sought to elevate the status of the song genre by setting high-quality poetry to music and creating a seamless integration of words and music
Notable Lieder Composers
- (1797-1828) was a prolific composer who wrote over 600 Lieder, including the song cycles "Die schöne Müllerin" and "Winterreise"
- Schubert's Lieder are known for their lyrical melodies, expressive piano accompaniments, and sensitive settings of poems by writers such as and Heine
- (1810-1856) composed many Lieder, including the song cycle "Dichterliebe," which sets poems by
- Schumann's Lieder often feature that reflect the emotional content of the text and the inner world of the characters
- (1833-1897) wrote nearly 200 Lieder, including the "Magelone Lieder" and "Vier ernste Gesänge"
- Brahms's Lieder are known for their rich harmonies, expressive melodies, and masterful integration of voice and piano
- (1860-1903) composed over 300 Lieder, including settings of poems by Goethe, Mörike, and Eichendorff
- Wolf's Lieder are characterized by their highly expressive and declamatory vocal lines, complex piano accompaniments, and psychological depth
Art Song Composition
Defining Art Song
- Art song is a genre of vocal music that combines poetry and music, usually for solo voice and piano accompaniment
- Art songs are composed by trained composers and are intended for performance by professional singers in concert settings
- Art songs differ from folk songs or popular songs in their use of sophisticated poetry, complex musical structures, and expressive vocal and piano writing
Common Forms in Art Song
- is a musical structure in which the same music is repeated for each stanza of a poem
- Strophic form creates a sense of unity and simplicity, allowing the listener to focus on the text and the overall mood of the song (example: Schubert's "Heidenröslein")
- Through-composed form is a musical structure in which new music is composed for each stanza of a poem, following the changing emotions and imagery of the text
- Through-composed form allows for greater musical and emotional variety and enables the composer to respond to the nuances of the poetry (example: Schubert's "Erlkönig")
Text Painting in Art Song
- Text painting is a compositional technique in which the music reflects the literal meaning of the words or the emotions and imagery suggested by the text
- Examples of text painting in art song include:
- Using ascending or descending melodic lines to represent rising or falling motion described in the text
- Employing rapid, agitated rhythms to depict excitement, anger, or fear
- Using chromaticism or dissonance to express pain, sorrow, or tension
- Incorporating specific musical motifs or themes to represent characters, objects, or ideas mentioned in the text (example: the galloping horse motif in Schubert's "Erlkönig")
Key Terms to Review (19)
19th-century nationalism: 19th-century nationalism was a political and cultural movement that emerged in Europe, characterized by the desire for national independence, unity, and self-determination among various ethnic groups. This era saw people rallying around shared language, culture, and history, leading to the formation of nation-states and a sense of collective identity. It played a crucial role in shaping the Romantic Lied and Art Song, as composers sought to express national pride and cultural heritage through music.
Art song: An art song is a vocal music composition that is typically intended for concert performance, characterized by its connection between music and poetry. These songs often feature a solo voice accompanied by piano and are noted for their expressive depth, highlighting the emotions and themes of the text. The Romantic period is particularly known for the development of the art song, with composers creating works that enhance the storytelling aspects of the lyrics through nuanced musical expression.
Complex piano accompaniments: Complex piano accompaniments refer to intricate and varied piano parts that support a vocal line, often characterized by rich harmonies, elaborate rhythms, and contrapuntal textures. These accompaniments enhance the emotional expression of the song while providing a foundation for the singer's melody, particularly in the context of Romantic art songs where lyrical depth and musical complexity are paramount.
Expressive accompaniment: Expressive accompaniment refers to a musical technique in which the piano or instrumental part enhances the emotional content of the vocal line in art songs or lieder. This approach involves using varied dynamics, textures, and harmonies to reflect the nuances of the lyrics and overall mood of the piece. By doing so, the accompaniment becomes an integral part of storytelling within the song.
Expressive phrasing: Expressive phrasing refers to the way musicians shape musical phrases to convey emotion and meaning, using techniques such as dynamics, articulation, and timing. This concept is especially significant in Romantic music, where conveying deep feelings and personal expression became paramount. In the context of vocal music like the Lied and art song, expressive phrasing enhances the interpretation of the text, allowing performers to connect more deeply with the audience through nuanced delivery.
Franz Schubert: Franz Schubert was an Austrian composer who is best known for his contributions to the Lied (German art song) during the early Romantic period. He was a master of melodic composition, creating songs that expressed deep emotions and intricate relationships between text and music, which became defining features of the Romantic Lied tradition.
German Romanticism: German Romanticism was an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that emerged in the late 18th century and flourished throughout the 19th century, emphasizing emotion, nature, and individualism. This movement significantly influenced the creation of the Lied and art song, as composers sought to express deep personal feelings and connections to nature through music, often setting poetry to music to enhance its emotional impact.
Goethe: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, statesman, and naturalist, known for his contributions to literature and philosophy during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He played a significant role in shaping the Romantic movement, particularly through his poetry and plays, which often explored deep emotional themes and human experiences. His works inspired many composers to create Lieder and art songs that encapsulated the essence of Romanticism.
Heinrich Heine: Heinrich Heine was a prominent German poet, essayist, and literary critic who lived from 1797 to 1856. He is best known for his contributions to the Romantic Lied and Art Song, as many of his poems were set to music by composers like Franz Schubert and Robert Schumann, enhancing the emotional depth and musicality of the era's art songs.
Hugo Wolf: Hugo Wolf was an influential late Romantic composer known primarily for his art songs, or Lieder, which transformed the genre and left a significant mark on the world of vocal music. His ability to fuse text and music with profound emotional depth and innovation was revolutionary, particularly in his approach to setting poetry to music, which emphasized the meaning and mood of the text.
Johannes Brahms: Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist of the Romantic period, renowned for his contributions to various musical genres including symphonies, chamber music, and art songs. His work is characterized by a deep emotional intensity and structural rigor, often blending traditional forms with innovative elements. Brahms' significance extends to both the Romantic Lied and program music, where he developed lyrical songs and symphonic compositions that resonate with personal expression and orchestral color.
Lied: A lied is a type of German song that typically features a solo vocalist and piano accompaniment, emphasizing lyrical and emotional expression. Originating in the late 18th century and flourishing during the Romantic era, lied often draws upon poetry for its texts, creating a deep connection between the music and the words.
Love: Love, in the context of Romantic Lied and Art Song, refers to the deep emotional connection and affection expressed through music and poetry. This theme is often characterized by its exploration of romantic relationships, longing, and the complexity of human emotions, reflecting both the joys and sorrows associated with love. The intimate nature of these songs allows composers and poets to capture the essence of love's multifaceted experience, making it a central theme in the Romantic musical era.
Lyrical melodies: Lyrical melodies are expressive and singable musical lines that convey emotion and meaning, often characterized by smooth, flowing contours and memorable motifs. In the context of romantic lied and art song, these melodies serve as the primary vehicle for the poetic text, enhancing the emotional depth and storytelling aspect of the music. The integration of lyrical melodies with accompaniment is crucial in creating a cohesive artistic expression, emphasizing the relationship between voice and piano.
Nature: In the context of Romantic Lied and Art Song, nature refers to the themes and imagery derived from the natural world that composers often explored to evoke emotion and convey deeper meanings in their music. This connection to nature is significant in expressing the Romantic era's ideals of individualism and emotional depth, reflecting a longing for authenticity and simplicity amidst the complexities of industrialization.
Robert Schumann: Robert Schumann was a German composer and music critic, renowned for his contributions to the Romantic Lied and art song repertoire in the 19th century. His works often feature deeply expressive melodies and complex harmonies, embodying the emotional depth characteristic of Romantic music. Schumann's influence extended to both vocal and instrumental music, making him a key figure in the evolution of the art song tradition.
Strophic form: Strophic form is a musical structure in which the same music is repeated for each stanza or verse of a song, often used in art songs and lieder. This approach emphasizes the text's poetic elements while providing a familiar musical backdrop, making it particularly effective for conveying emotional narratives. Strophic form is characterized by its simplicity and effectiveness, allowing composers to highlight lyrical content without complicating the musical setting.
Text painting: Text painting is a musical technique where the music reflects the literal meaning of the lyrics, enhancing the emotional expression and storytelling of the song. This practice creates a direct connection between the text and the music, often through the use of melodic contours and rhythmic patterns that mirror the words being sung. By employing text painting, composers are able to elevate the narrative quality of their pieces, making them more engaging and impactful.
Through-composed: Through-composed is a musical form that features continuous, non-repetitive music, where each section of the piece is distinct and varies from one to the next. This form is particularly relevant in art songs and lieder from the Romantic period, as it allows for greater emotional expression and narrative development by using unique musical phrases that align closely with the changing text.