Nachtlied (Schumann)
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| Nachtlied | |
|---|---|
| by Robert Schumann | |
 | |
| Key | D minor |
| Opus | 108 |
| Period | Romantic |
| Genre | Tone poem |
| Text | "Nachtlied" by Friedrich Hebbel |
| Language | German |
| Composed | 1849 |
| Dedication | Friedrich Hebbel |
| Published | 1852 |
| Duration | c.10–12 minutes |
| Scoring | Choir and orchestra |
Nachtlied, Op. 108, is a tone poem by Robert Schumann for choir and orchestra with text from a poem of the same name by Friedrich Hebbel. The work was composed in 1849 and published in 1852. A performance lasts for approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
The work is scored for an eight-part mixed choir without soloists, and an orchestra. Although not explicitly segregated, the work has three distinct sections based on the verses of the original poem. In the first section, a polyphonic structure is established with competing melodic lines from the chorus. In the second, the instrumental writing becomes muddier and more urgent. In the final section, the piece abruptly modulates to D major from its original key in D minor and an echo of the word Schlaf (sleep) is heard in the chorus. The end is dream-like, invoking a descent into sleep.[1][2][3]
Relation to Hebbel
Schumann met Hebbel in 1847 and was honored by the visit, according to his diary. After finishing the tone-poem two years later, Schumann sent Hebbel a copy of the score and wrote, "I would have preferred to have enclosed an orchestra with winds blowing and strings bowing, along with a chorus in order to be able to lull the poet into lovely dreams with his own song."[4] Schumann marked his piece Dem Dichter gewidmet (dedicated to the poet).[5]
