''Rilke Songs'' is a composition for mezzo-soprano and

piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keybo ...

by the American composer

Peter Lieberson Peter Goddard Lieberson (25 October 1946 – 23 April 2011) was an American composer of contemporary classical music. His song cycles include two finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for Music: '' Rilke Songs'' and ''Neruda Songs''; the latter won t ...

. The work is set to poetry by the Bohemian-

Austrian Austrian may refer to: * Austrians, someone from Austria or of Austrian descent ** Someone who is considered an Austrian citizen, see Austrian nationality law * Austrian German dialect * Something associated with the country Austria, for example: ...

writer Rainer Maria Rilke. It was composed for Lieberson's wife

Lorraine Hunt Lieberson Lorraine Hunt Lieberson (March 1, 1954 – July 3, 2006) was an American mezzo-soprano. She was noted for her performances of both Baroque era and contemporary works. Her career path to becoming a singer was unconventional – formerly a pr ...

, who gave the world premiere in Santa Fe, New Mexico on July 18, 2001. The piece was a finalist for the 2002

Pulitzer Prize for Music The Pulitzer Prize for Music is one of seven Pulitzer Prizes awarded annually in Letters, Drama, and Music. It was first given in 1943. Joseph Pulitzer arranged for a music scholarship to be awarded each year, and this was eventually converted ...

Composition

Background

Peter Lieberson was first exposed to the writing of Rainer Maria Rilke as child, recalling in the score program notes, "When I was growing up, my mother, whose first language was German, would often quote lines from Rilke. I have been drawn to his poetry ever since." Lieberson composed the songs specifically for his wife Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, remarking of Rilke's poetry:

Structure

''Rilke Songs'' has a duration of roughly 18 minutes and is composed in five

movements Movement may refer to: Common uses * Movement (clockwork), the internal mechanism of a timepiece * Motion, commonly referred to as movement Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * "Movement" (short story), a short story by Nancy Fu ...

: #O ihr Zärtlichen #Atmen, du unsichtbares Gedicht! #Wolle die Wandlung #Blumenmuskel, der der Anemone #Stiller Freund

Reception

Reviewing a 2005 recording of the piece, Vivien Schweitzer of ''

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'' wrote, " ieberson's''Rilke Songs'', written for his wife, are intensely communicative works, combining atonality and tonality in the vivid piano part." She added, "Mr. Lieberson writes that he thinks of these pieces as 'love songs,' even though the poems are not specifically about love. Ms. Hunt Lieberson's radiant voice is expressive throughout her range, with its bright top notes, smoky lower register and elegant vibrato."

References

{{Authority control Compositions by Peter Lieberson 2001 compositions Classical song cycles in English Musical settings of poems by Rainer Maria Rilke