Classical Podcasts

Listening Guide The Work Key: D major (E-flat major in final verse) Tempo: Sehr zart und innig (Very tender and intimate) Time Signature: 6/4 (3/4 in final six measures) Rhythm: continuous eighth-note ostinato interwoven around the quarter-notes of the vocal line like Athe gentle rocking rhythm of a lullaby. Form: Two-part song form. Orchestration: 1 […] Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Key: F major (second and final verse in the minor key) Tempo: Sehr Lebhaft (Very fast). Time Signature: 2/2 Rhythm: nearly moto perpetuo eighth-notes Form: AA’; AA’ (A’ episodes in the minor) Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder! Meine Augen schlag’ ich nieder, Wie ertappt auf böser Tat. Selber darf ich […] Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Dates of Composition: 1901 (Rückert-Lieder); 1902 (Liebst du um Schönheit); published as Sieben Lieder Aus Letzter Zeit 1910 (C. F. Kahnt). Place of composition: Maiernigg Type of composition: 5 Songs in versions with piano and orchestral accompaniment. Blicke Mir Nicht In Die Lieder Janet Baker, mezzo‑soprano New Philharmonia Sir John Barbirolli, conductor […] Support the...

Listening Guide The Work Key: D minor (with occasional hints of B-flat and A major), ending in D major. Tempo: Mit ruhelos schmerzvollem Ausdruck (With a restless, painful expression). Time Signature: 4/4 Form: free strophic form with a prelude and postlude, each verse being separated by an interlude of varying length. The last verse is […] Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Key: E-flat major (with each verse beginning in the minor), modulating to G-flat during each verse. Tempo: Ruhig bewegt, ohne zu eilen (calmly restless, without hurrying) Time Signature: 2/2 (with a few bars of 3/2) Form: ABABAB Oft denk’ ich, sie sind nur ausgegangen! Bald werden sie wieder nach hause gelangen! […] Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Key: C minor (modulating to G minor). Tempo: Schwer, dumpf (Weighty, muffled) Time Signature: 4/4 alternating with 3/2. Form: ABAB. Wenn dein Mütterlien tritt zur Tür herein, und den Kopf ich drehe, ihr entgegen sehe, fällt auf ihr Gesicht erst der Blick mir nicht, sondern auf die Stellen, dort, wo würde […] Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Key: C minor (original piano version in C-sharp minor) with several modulations to C major, D major, G minor and B-flat major. Tempo: Ruhig, nicht schleppend (Restful, do not drag) Time Signature: 4/4 (with a few measures of 3/2 and 2/4) Form: ABCB (with a brief introduction and coda) Nun seh’ […] Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Key: D minor/major with various modulations. Tempo: Langsam und schwermütig; nicht schleppend (Slow and melancholy; do not drag) Time signature: 4/4 Form: AABA based upon the four verses of the poem. Nun will die Sonn’ so hell aufgeh’n Als sei kein Unglück die Nacht gescheh’n. Das Unglück geschah nur mir allein. […] Support the show

Listening Guide The Work 5 Songs on Poems by Friedrich Rückert Dates of composition: The first, third and fourth songs were written during the summer of 1901; the second and fifth were added in June, 1904. Pub. (C.F. Kahnt 1905). Place of composition: Maiernigg Type of composition: 5 Songs in versions with piano and orchestral accompaniment. A […] Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Tempo: Sehr Behaglich (Very Relaxed). Key: G major (ending in E major). Time Signature: 4/4 Form: strophic in 4 verses with a prelude and postlude. Text: Das Himmlische Leben from Des Knaben Wunderhorn (1892) Wir genießen die himmlischen Freuden, D’rum tun wir das Irdische meiden. Kein weltlich’ Getümmel Hört man nicht […] Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Tempo: Ruhevoll (poco adagio) (restful). Principal Key: G major Time Signature: 4/4 Form: Double theme and variations (ABABA Coda) Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Tempo: In gemächlicher Bewegung. Ohne Hast. (In an easy motion. Without haste). Key: C minor/major (with an F major trio) Time Signature: 3/8 Rhythm: slow ländler Form: scherzo with two trios. Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Tempo: Bedächtig, nicht eilen. (Deliberate, without haste) Key: G major. Time Signature: 4/4 (with a few measures in 3/4 and 2/4) Form: Modified sonata form Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Date(s) of Composition: 1899-1900; published by Universal (1901, rev. 1903, 1910) Place of Composition: Maiernigg and Vienna Premiere: 25 November 1901, Munich Orchestration: 4 flutes (3rd and 4th doubling with piccolo), 3 oboes, (3rd doubling with English Horn); 3 clarinets in Bb, A and C (2nd doubling with E-flat clarinet, 3rd […] Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Tempo: Langsam, ruhevoll, empfunden. (Slow, restful, deeply felt). Key: D major (modulating to F-sharp minor, C sharp minor, etc.) Time Signature: 4/4. Form: Elements of rondo and sonata form with variations on two principal themes. Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Tempo: Lustig in Tempo und keck in Ausdruck (In a merry tempo and bold expression). Key: F major (D minor in the middle section) Time Signature: 4/4 Rhythm: lively march. Form: strophic (ABCA) Orchestration: alto solo, women’s and children’s choruses, 4 flutes, 3 horns, 5 clarinets (including bass clarinet), 3 bassoons, […] Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Tempo: Sehr langsam. Misterioso. Key: D major/minor Time Signature: 2/2, changing to 3/3 (with one measure of 3/4) Form: through-composed song form (Introduction-ABAB) Text: The Midnight Song from Also Sprach Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche (sung by alto voice) O Mensch! O Mensch! Gib Acht! Gib Acht! Wie spricht die tiefe Mitternacht? […] Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Tempo: Comodo. Scherzando. Ohne Hast. (Without Haste). Key: C minor/major (Trio in F major/minor) Time Signature: 2/4 alternating with 6/8 (6/8 in Trio) Rhythm: binary dance form (bourrée) as in Ablösung im Sommer Form: Rondo (ABACABCA) Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Tempo: Tempo di Menuetto. Sehr mässig. (Very moderate) Key: A major (with contrasting sections in F-sharp minor) Time Signature: mostly triple meter (3/4, 3/8, 9/8) with occasional duple meter (2/4) Basic rhythm: minuet or slow ländler alternating with quick-step dance rhythms Form: ABABA (rondo with variations) Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Tempo: Kräftig . Entschieden. (Forcefully and decidedly) Key: D minor to F major with numerous intermittent modulations Time Signature: 4/4, changing to various other meters throughout the movement Form: Extended sonata form with introduction and coda Principal Material: funeral march and popular military march in alternation Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Date(s) of Composition: 1895-1896; published by Weinberger in 1898; Universal Edition in 1901; revised 1906. Place of Composition: Steinbach Premiere: 9 June 1902, Krefeld Orchestration: 4 flutes (one doubles with piccolo); 4 oboes (4th doubles with English horn); 3 clarinets in B-flat (3rd doubles with bass clarinet); 2 clarinets in E-flat […] Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Tempo: In ruhig fliessender Bewegung (In calmly flowing motion) Principal Key: C minor (C major in the trio) Time Signature: 3/8. Rhythm: fast ländler with a sixteenth-note ostinato. Form: Scherzo and trio. Chorus Auferstehn, ja auferstehn wirst du, Mein Staub, nach kurzer Ruh! Unsterblich Leben Wird, der dich rief, dir geben. […] Support the show

Listening Guide The Work “Urlicht” (“Primal Light”) from “Des Knaben Wunderhorn” Tempo: Sehr feierlich aber schlicht (Choralmässig) (very solemn but modestly simple) [Like a chorale] Key: D-flat major (middle section begins in B-flat minor) Time Signature: 4/4 (with alternating meter shifts). Form: Though-composed in ABA structure. O Röschen rot! Der mensch liegt in größter Not! […] Support the sh...

Listening Guide The Work Tempo: In ruhig fliessender Bewegung (In calmly flowing motion) Principal Key: C minor (C major in the trio) Time Signature: 3/8. Rhythm: fast ländler with a sixteenth-note ostinato. Form: Scherzo and trio. Support the show

Listening Guide The Work Tempo: Im Tempo des Scherzos; Wild herausfahrend; Langsam, Allegro energico, nicht zu schnell; Kräftig; Mit einem Male etwas wuchtiger; Mit etwas drängendem Charakter; Langsam. Misterioso, etc. (In the tempo of the Scherzo; a wild outburst; slowly; energetically fast, without rushing; powerfully; somewhat weightier; somewhat pressed; slowly, mysteriously etc.) Key: C minor...