Neue Liebeslieder, op. 65 (Brahms)
Encyclopedia
Neue Liebeslieder, Op. 65 (New Love Songs), also known as Neue Liebesliederwalzer, written by Johannes Brahms
, is a collection of Romantic pieces written for four solo
voices and four hands on the piano
. The Neue Liebeslieder were written during the Romantic period between 1869 and 1874. The text of the songs is adapted from folk songs of various areas of Europe
including Turkey
, Poland
, Latvia
, and Sicily
. The text for songs 1 through 14 were translated and compiled by Georg Friedrich Daumer
in his poem series, Polydora; the text for the fifteenth and final song, entitled Zum Schluß (In Conclusion), was written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
.
sections of the work are separated by two solo songs for the individual members of the quartet. Although this piece was originally written for a quartet, the Neue Liebeslieder is often performed by a larger chamber ensemble
and soloists.
The better known and more liked portion of this fifteen song cycle are the seven quartets. Throughout these ensemble sections, Brahms uses innovative techniques to portray a central idea. For example, in the first song, measures 16-21, he depicts the rocky shores by the repeated cry of "zertrümmert", which, translated into English, means "wrecked". Brahms also enhances the text "Well auf Well" (wave after wave) with octave leaps in all four parts in measure 4 and 29. In song number 8, Brahms's use of the musical rest
in the middle of the words mixed with the chorus singing dolce helps to create a gentle atmosphere.
The eight solo sections of The Neue Liebeslieder differ from the ensemble parts in that the soloists illustrate different characters who behave in certain ways when it comes to love. The soprano
is a female who continuously has no luck when it comes to men; the alto
is depicted as a female who has suddenly abandoned her lover; the tenor
is portrayed as a male who is selfish and irresponsible when it comes to sexual relationships with women; and the bass is one who is hopelessly in love with his married lover.
The final song in this cycle moves away from the subject of lovers and puts the spotlight on the muse
s and thanks them for inspiring not only the author (Goethe), but also all of the artists in the world. With this change in subject comes the change in meter. Brahms moves away from the standard 3/4 meter
and changes to 9/4. The music is also much more contrapuntal
than the previous songs in this cycle. At the climax of this song in measure 16, the piano drops out and the choir
sings a cappella
and moves from the dominant
key back to the tonic key
of F
. J. A. Fuller Maitland, in Grove's Dictionary
, wrote:
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
, is a collection of Romantic pieces written for four solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
voices and four hands on the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. The Neue Liebeslieder were written during the Romantic period between 1869 and 1874. The text of the songs is adapted from folk songs of various areas of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
including Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, and Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
. The text for songs 1 through 14 were translated and compiled by Georg Friedrich Daumer
Georg Friedrich Daumer
Georg Friedrich Daumer was a German poet and philosopher. He was educated at the gymnasium of his native city, at that time directed by the famous philosopher Hegel. In 1817 he entered the University of Erlangen as a student of theology, but abandoned that study for philosophy...
in his poem series, Polydora; the text for the fifteenth and final song, entitled Zum Schluß (In Conclusion), was written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
.
Musical Aspects
The Neue Liebeslieder differs from the conventional Liebeslieder in the fact that the ensembleMusical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
sections of the work are separated by two solo songs for the individual members of the quartet. Although this piece was originally written for a quartet, the Neue Liebeslieder is often performed by a larger chamber ensemble
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
and soloists.
The better known and more liked portion of this fifteen song cycle are the seven quartets. Throughout these ensemble sections, Brahms uses innovative techniques to portray a central idea. For example, in the first song, measures 16-21, he depicts the rocky shores by the repeated cry of "zertrümmert", which, translated into English, means "wrecked". Brahms also enhances the text "Well auf Well" (wave after wave) with octave leaps in all four parts in measure 4 and 29. In song number 8, Brahms's use of the musical rest
Rest (music)
A rest is an interval of silence in a piece of music, marked by a sign indicating the length of the pause. Each rest symbol corresponds with a particular note value:The quarter rest may also be found as a form in older music....
in the middle of the words mixed with the chorus singing dolce helps to create a gentle atmosphere.
The eight solo sections of The Neue Liebeslieder differ from the ensemble parts in that the soloists illustrate different characters who behave in certain ways when it comes to love. The soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
is a female who continuously has no luck when it comes to men; the alto
Alto
Alto is a musical term, derived from the Latin word altus, meaning "high" in Italian, that has several possible interpretations.When designating instruments, "alto" frequently refers to a member of an instrumental family that has the second highest range, below that of the treble or soprano. Hence,...
is depicted as a female who has suddenly abandoned her lover; the tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
is portrayed as a male who is selfish and irresponsible when it comes to sexual relationships with women; and the bass is one who is hopelessly in love with his married lover.
The final song in this cycle moves away from the subject of lovers and puts the spotlight on the muse
Muse
The Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture, that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths...
s and thanks them for inspiring not only the author (Goethe), but also all of the artists in the world. With this change in subject comes the change in meter. Brahms moves away from the standard 3/4 meter
Meter (music)
Meter or metre is a term that music has inherited from the rhythmic element of poetry where it means the number of lines in a verse, the number of syllables in each line and the arrangement of those syllables as long or short, accented or unaccented...
and changes to 9/4. The music is also much more contrapuntal
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
than the previous songs in this cycle. At the climax of this song in measure 16, the piano drops out and the choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
sings a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
and moves from the dominant
Dominant (music)
In music, the dominant is the fifth scale degree of the diatonic scale, called "dominant" because it is next in importance to the tonic,and a dominant chord is any chord built upon that pitch, using the notes of the same diatonic scale...
key back to the tonic key
Tonic (music)
In music, the tonic is the first scale degree of the diatonic scale and the tonal center or final resolution tone. The triad formed on the tonic note, the tonic chord, is thus the most significant chord...
of F
F major
F major is a musical major scale based on F, consisting of the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. Its key signature has one flat . It is by far the oldest key signature with an accidental, predating the others by hundreds of years...
. J. A. Fuller Maitland, in Grove's Dictionary
Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart, it is the largest single reference work on Western music. The dictionary has gone through several editions since the 19th century...
, wrote:
Further reading
- Stark, Lucien. 1998. Brahms’s Vocal Duets and Quartets with Piano: A Guide with Full Texts and Translations. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0253334020.
External links
- Rehearsal Information for The Napa Valley Chorale 2006
- Detailed Listening Guide using a recording with four solo voices
- Neue Liebeslieder, op. 65 (Brahms), Neue Liebeslieder, op. 65a (Brahms): Free scores at the Brahms Institut.