Cäcilie (Strauss)
Cäcilie | |
---|---|
Lied by Richard Strauss | |
English | Cecilia or Cecily |
Catalogue | TrV 170 |
Opus | 27, No. 2 |
Text | Poem by Heinrich Hart |
Language | German |
Composed | September 9, 1894 |
Dedication | Pauline de Ahna, composer's wife. |
Scoring | Voice and piano |
"Cäcilie", Op. 27 No. 2, is the second in a set of four songs composed by Richard Strauss in 1894.
The words are from a love poem "Cäcilie" written by Heinrich Hart (1855–1906), a German dramatic critic and journalist who also wrote poetry. It was written for the poet's wife Cäcilie.
German pronunciation: [tsɛːˈtsiː.liːə], or UK English as "Cecilia".
History
[edit]Strauss composed the song at Marquartstein on 9 September 1894.[1] , the day before his wedding to the soprano Pauline de Ahna. All four of the Opus 27 songs, including Cäcilie were given as a wedding present to her.
Instrumentation and accompaniment
[edit]The song was originally written with piano accompaniment in the key of E major, but later orchestrated in his 'heroic' key of E♭. The instrumentation is: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in B♭, 2 bassoons, 4 horns in E♭, 2 trumpets in E♭, 3 trombones, tuba, 3 timpani, harp and the orchestral string section.[2]
The tempo direction is "Sehr lebhaft und drängend".[3]
Strauss, in his rich and lively orchestration, included parts for a solo string player from each section.
The change of key a semitone down from E to E♭ explains why, from bar 34 on the violas are asked to play the note B, a semitone below the lowest note normally possible on the instrument; and at this point Strauss asks half the violas to tune this string down a semitone.[4] For the same reason the full score, bar 39, gives the second flute the note B, a semitone lower than its normal lowest note.
Lyrics
[edit]Cäcilie | Cecilia[5] |
---|---|
Wenn du es wüßtest, |
If you but knew, sweet, |
Opus 27
[edit]The other songs of Strauss' Opus 27:
- Op. 27 No. 1 "Ruhe, meine Seele!" (Nicht ein Lüftchen regt sich leise)
- Op. 27 No. 3 "Heimliche Aufforderung" (Auf, hebe die funkelnde Schale)
- Op. 27 No. 4 "Morgen!" (Und morgen wird die Sonne wieder scheinen)
Recordings
[edit]There are many recordings of this, one of Strauss's most popular songs. Richard Strauss recorded it in once in 1944, accompanying the Austrian soprano Maria Reining on the piano.[8]
References and notes
[edit]This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2009) |
- ^ Trenner, Franz (2003) Richard Strauss Chronik, Verlag Dr Richard Strauss Gmbh, Wien, ISBN 3-901974-01-6. Page 118.
- ^ Richard Strauss Lieder, Complete Edition Vol. IV, London, 1965, Boosey & Hawkes
- ^ Full score: "Very lively and urgent".
- ^ Note in the full score: "Die Hälfte nach H unstimmen"
- ^ Translation by Paul Bernhoff
- ^ Hart: "kämst"
- ^ Hart: "Höhen"
- ^ Richard Strauss accompanies (Vol.2), Preiser PR93262.
External links
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