Song of the week: Er, der Herrlichste von allen (R. Schumann) - E. Grümmer, A. Reimann
We continue with the post about Frauenliebe und -leben that we started last week. We talked about the controversy that arose forty years ago, because it was considered degrading for women. We also talked about the poet Adalbert von Chamisso, who, in fact, wrote a modern approach to his main character. Now it’s time to talk about Schumann's work.Adalbert von Chamisso wrote his nine poems in 1830; Carl Loewe wrote the first song cycle in 1837 and Schumann did it in 1840 in just a couple of days, between 11th and 12th of July. It's said that Loewe makes a superficial reading of the poems; on the contrary, Schumann's cycle has been extensively discussed and [...]
While reading the recital's programme that is opening the Schubertiada at Vilabertran the day after tomorrow, I realized that we haven't spoken yet on Liederabend about one of the most important cycles by Schumann, Frauenliebe und -leben (A Woman's Love and Life), probably his most controversial cycle, and not because of the music. After writing for a while, I also realized that the post became too long; but instead of shortening it, which is what I usually do, this time I decided (it's summer, you know) to split the post into two, this week’s and next’s.
The third summer issue and the last one: the night, because we enjoy nights mostly in summer: outdoors, partying, having drinks with friends... We will go over some nocturnes we have previously listened on Liederabend and we'll listen to a new... lied? Not really, you know that from time to time I like fooling myself. Anyway, let's start with three masterpieces; it seems that the night inspires composers.
Second summer issue: water. If we believe in advertising, summer without water (and I'm not thinking of rain) is not a summer at all. Generalizations always exaggerate, but my summers have always been tied up to the sea. This week we have a Lied that talks about a boat ride, but before this, we are going over three of the songs about water that we've heard on this blog so far.
I've chosen three summer topics; we could talk about them any time of the year but, somehow, they seem more appealing in summer. The first summer issue, as mentioned in this post title, is lying down: in a tree's shadow, sitting on a deck chair having a mojito, falling asleep, loosely watching the sea or the clouds passing by. One of the great pleasures of holidays, to lounge around. The 19th century poets had tonnes of leisure time, so it won't be the first time we lounge around in Liederabend.
