Composer: Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai Andreevich
Dates: 1844-1908
Song title: K moey pesne [To my song = An mein
Lied]
Opus, no., etc.: op.25, Nr.1
Music collection title: Dva romansa [Two songs]
Imprint(s): St. Petersburg: Büttner, 1877
Source(s) for score: Songs with piano accompaniment, v. 2 --
Melville, NY: Belwin Mills, 1981 (reprint from Russian complete works
ed.)
1st line of poem: Mir träumte einst von wildem
Liebesglüh'n (Go
to text)
Source of poem: Buch der Lieder: Junge Leiden: Traumbilder,
Nr.1
Date of composition: 24 April 1870
Nationality of composer: Russian
Language(s) of text: Translated into Russian by M. Michailov;
Belwin Mills reprint has literal English translation by Robert
Romano, singing translation by Robert Hess
Tempo marking: Allegro appasionato
Key: D major
Time signature: 3/4
No. of measures: 54
Approximate duration: 2 min., 10 sec.
Form: Through-composed; ABA' form, corresponding to poem's 3
stanzas
Vocal range: A-sharp to e-flat' [a-sharp to
e-flat'']
Vocal tessitura: varies, with several phrases each for low,
middle and high ranges, but g, a and b (and their accidentals)
account for nearly half of the pitches (Go
to chart)
Vocal rhythms: many shorter, often dotted declamatory rhythms,
especially in A sections; more legato eighth-note motion in B
section
Vocal intervals: many fairly tricky skips of third to sixth,
including several of a tritone
Vocal comments: male singer (baritone) more appropriate to
text
Textual variants, etc.: dedicated to Vladimir Vasilievich
Stasov
Instrumental part(s): Piano part of mild difficulty, with
typical late Romantic syncopations and accompanimental devices; does
not double vocal part at all. Contributes very much to overall mood
of each section.
Summary: Well-constructed, condensed and dramatic setting of
poem. Perhaps somewhat overwrought, but typical of era. Could be
quite effective, especially when balanced with more lyrical settings.
Typical late-Romantic chromaticism, continually modulating.
(Go
to analysis)
Go to other settings of this poem
Go to other songs by this composer
Go to Index of first lines and titles
Go
to Listing of poems in published order
Copyright © 2000, Peter W. Shea
