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Nun wandre, Maria from Geistliche Lieder - Spiritual Songs
by Hugo Wolf

Hugo Wolf (1860 - 1903) is considered to be among the greatest composers of Lieder. That he is less well-known than Schubert, Schumann and Brahms is probably because his compositional strengths lie not so much in beautiful and accessible melodies, but in inventive piano motifs and a particularly sensitive treatment of words. Wolf himself is said to have insisted that his remarkably intense music was written for epicures, not amateurs.
Spanisches Liederbuch ("Spanish Songbook”) was composed in 1889 and 1890, and uses as its text German translations of sixteenth and seventeenth century Spanish poetry. Ten of the 44 songs in this set are known as the Geistliche Gesänge (Spiritual Songs). The first of these radiate gentleness and a simplicity of feeling. Repeating patterns in the piano underline this mood, and also help paint an aural picture of the scenes being described. In 'Nun wandre, Maria," for example, the regular plodding steps of the Virgin Mary and Joseph as they walk towards Bethlehem are represented by the uninterrupted movements up and down the scale in the piano's right hand. The mood of the last set of these sacred songs changes to one of abject contrition and remorse. The repeating patterns here create a deliberate sense of monotony and seem designed to produce a hypnotic effect.
The music of Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) can be heard as a bridge between the musical traditions of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Audiences of today can hear in Mahler's music a surprisingly modern voice which speaks to them in terms they understand. It is a voice of great romantic feeling and profound sensibility, but also one of doubt and of relentlessly probed subconscious fears.

lyrics

1. NOW JOURNEY ON, MARY

Now journey on, Mary, journey forth.
Already the cocks are crowing and the place is near.
Journey on, my beloved, my jewel,
And soon we will be in Bethlehem.
Then will you rest so well and slumber there.
I see well, my lady, that your strength is waning.
Ah, it can hardly bear your sufferings.
Courage ! we will surely find lodging there.
If your delivery were only over, Mary,
I would give good reward for the glad tidings.
I would give away the donkey here in exchange!
Already the cocks are crowing, come ! The goal is near.

credits

from Ach, des Knaben Augen, released June 12, 2013

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Ludwig Recordings Delta, British Columbia

Ludwig Recordings is a Record Label specializing in the music of composer Christopher Ludwig and its artists.
Ludwig Recordings has an especially strong focus on Art Song.

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