Einsame Nacht

Description

Einsame Nacht (1971) is a song-cycle for baritone and piano on six poems from Herman Hesse’s Die Gedichte.xa0 Einsame Nacht, roughly translated as “lonely night” is the title of a poem I originally intended to include in the cycle and later discarded, however, and the title (and indeed the poem itself) seemed to provide a focus for the set of poems I finally used.The poems of this cycle, like much of Hesse’s poetry, are concerned with existential loneliness (elsewhere Hesse has written: “Leben ist Einsamsein,” roughly “To live is to be lonely”).xa0 Yet, while themes of homesickness, alienation and loss are explored, there is a wonderful life-affirming sensuousness and immediacy in the poetry.xa0 The images are almost palpable and there is sheer joy in the words themselves.xa0 One experiences, with Hesse, a recognition of the isolation of the human condition together with a profound yearning for connection. A song cycle on six poems of Hermann Hesse by the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer. About 14 min. For college, conservatory, professional. Dificult.