Adelaide

Adelaide

Music: Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Words: Friedrich von Matthisson (1761-1831)

Adelaide is a large work, performances of it range from 6 to 7 minutes in length. The piece is in three sections, a pastoral and lyric first section, a more dramatic middle section, and the final allegro. Such a song is difficult to categorize, it most easily could be called a solo cantata or concert aria. This song displays the influence of Italian vocal music on Beethoven. The vocal melody is broad and lyrical; matched with Beethoven’s creative and always contrasting accompaniment figuration in the piano, Adelaide is an important and rewarding work.

Beethoven may not be thought of very often as a writer of songs, but he did write around 66 songs, and of course his opera - Fidelio. When we hear Beethoven’s name we think of the great symphonies, piano sonatas, concertos, and the like, but his innovative song developments helped pave the way to the great flowering of the German lied with Schubert and Schumann.

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Key of Bb Major

Sample MP3, Piano & Melody, Bb Major