In December 1814 Beethoven wrote to Johann Baptist Rupprecht, “With the greatest pleasure, my esteemed R, I will set your poem to music and, what is more, I will shortly bring it to you in person — Whether my setting will be heavenly, I do not know, since I am only earthly. However I will do my utmost to justify as far as possible your exaggerated predilection for me.”
The poem was “Merkenstein,” about a twelfth century ruin in lower Austria. Rupprecht opens each of its six veres with "Merkenstein! Merkenstein!" and closes each with the same, except for the first and last strophes, which close with "Denk' ich dein, Merkenstein!" ("I think of you, Merkenstein!").The poem conjures nostalgia-tinged memories of the ruins, concluding:
“Nature has come to appear to me
Eternally youthful amid your ruins.”
Beethoven composed two entirely different settings for this poem, one for solo voice and piano (WoO 144), and the other for vocal duet (Opus 100).
https://youtu.be/b1Nt49eEcks (WoO 144)
https://youtu.be/AGRRTiYONgw (Opus 100)
"Merkenstein" (1ª versión), Lied en Mi ♭ mayor para voz y piano, WoO 144. Ludwig van Beethoven
Beethoven: Merkenstein, Op. 100 (with Score)
"Merkenstein" (1ª versión), Lied en Mi ♭ mayor para voz y piano, WoO 144. Ludwig van Beethoven
Beethoven: Merkenstein, Op. 100 (with Score)
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John Scialdone published this page in Daily Beethoven 2021-05-19 08:16:25 -0400