19th Annual Student Research Conference
Fine Arts
Ludwig van Beethoven's song cycle, "An Die Ferne Geliebte" -- A Revolution in the History of Vocal Literature
Eric R. Kooima♦
Dr. Thomas Hueber, Faculty Mentor
Although known best for his instrumental works, Ludwig van Beethoven was an important composer of German lieder. One of his most significant contributions to the vocal repertoire was his creation of the first song cycle in 1816 with the work, An die ferne Geliebte (To my distant beloved.) In it, Beethoven sets six poems by Aloys Jeitteles. These poems offer a wide range of moods, including wistfulness, Sehnsucht (Yearning), heart-ache, and earnestness, as well as a sense of hope and resolution. This rich palette of emotions is unified and given continuity through the use of an unbroken musical structure. Utilizing a unique and largely hitherto unused vocal compositional technique, each song is musically linked to the next, making the entire song cycle a single continuously flowing piece of music.
Keywords: Beethoven, song cycle, lieder
Topic(s):Music
Presentation Type: Performance Art
Session: 3-5
Location: OP 1393, Performance Hall
Time: 9:15