| Sechs Lieder | |
|---|---|
| Im Freien zu singen | |
| Part songs byFelix Mendelssohn | |
.jpg) The composer in 1846, portraitbyEduard Magnus | |
| English | Six songs |
| Opus | 59 |
| Text | |
| Language | German |
| Composed | 1837 (1837)–43 |
| Published | 1882 (1882)–84 |
| Scoring | SATB |
Sechs Lieder (Six songs),Op. 59, is a collection of sixpart songs for four voicesa cappella byFelix Mendelssohn. He composed the songs between 1837 and 1843, setting six poems in German. They are subtitled "Im Freien zu singen" ("To be sung outdoors"), and focus on nature. They were published after his death as part of his complete works. One of the songs, "O Täler weit, o Höhen" became so popular that it is also regarded asVolkslied.[1]
When Mendelssohn studied in Berlin withCarl Friedrich Zelter, he was introduced to thelieder of Zelter,Ludwig Berger,Johann Friedrich Reichardt andBernhard Klein, who have become known to musicologists as theZweite Berliner Liederschule ("Second Berlin Song School").[n 1] Their concepts included simple strophic form and singable melodies, trying to convey the characteristic moods of the poems which they set.[1] Mendelssohn followed these ideas, which were also promoted by Goethe,[3] in his songs.[1]
Mendelssohn composed his songs for four mixed voices during the summer months which he spent with his family inFrankfurt or on his uncle's winery in Horchheim.[1] He composed three sets "lm Freien zu singen" of six songs each, Op. 41 in 1834, Op. 48 in 1839, and Op. 59 in 1837 to 1843.[1][4] Ten further songs were published as Op. 88 and Op. 100. All appeared as part of his complete works byBreitkopf & Härtel in 1882–84.[1]
The third of the songs,Abschied vom Walde (Farewell to the Forest), beginning "O Täler weit, o Höhen" (O valleys wide, o height) became especially popular,[5][3] and has been regarded as aVolkslied.[6]
The titles of the six songs, Op. 59 are:[1][5]
The poems were written byHelmina von Chézy (1),Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (2, 4),Joseph von Eichendorff (3, 6), andLudwig Uhland (5), treated with freedom at times.[1] Their themes are often Spring and Nature. Mendelssohn expanded some songs by acoda, others arethrough-composed. No. 3, "Abschied vom Walde", is in simple strophic form but uses imitation of the voices in the third line.[1]
In 2010, the titleAbschied vom Walde of the third song, was taken for a recording of part-songs by Mendelssohn and his sisterFanny Hensel, performed by the Vocal Concert Dresden.[7] All Mendelssohn's songsIm Freien zu singen were recorded in 2017 by theKammerchor Stuttgart, conducted byFrieder Bernius, awarded thePreis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik.[4]
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