Poet: Friedrich Hölderlin (1770-1843)
Source: Sechs Hölderin Fragmente
Date of Composition: 1958 (Summer)
Publication: Boosey & Hawkes, 1962*
Voice Difficulty Level: Moderately Difficult
Subject: Our completion as beings is not attained in this life.
Range: Eb4 – G5
Tessitura: Bb
Tempo: Slow and solemn; 4/2
Duration: 02:19
Vocal Characteristics: Long phrases; requires pitch independence
Piano Difficulty Level: Difficult
Accompaniment Characteristics: Contrapuntal melodic figures ascend throughout the song leading to a thicker texture and dissonance finally arriving at a seven octave span Eb Maj. Chord;
Additional Comments: *Boosey score contains translations by Pears and Elizabeth Mayer