GERM 241
German Romantic Song Fall 2024
Division I
Cross-listed MUS 241

An emblem of Romanticism. A mainstay of recitals. A public performance of interior feeling. Why is it that the Lied, a short song for piano and solo voice, remains such an enduring musical genre? This course explores this question by focusing on the key repertoire and the history of German Romantic Lieder. We will begin by studying some of the most influential composers of German Lieder during the nineteenth century (including Franz Schubert, Clara and Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms, Hugo Wolf, and Gustav Mahler), analyzing how these composers experimented with the interplay of music and text. We will also examine the social contexts in which Lieder were composed and performed, with particular attention to factors like gender and class. Finally, we will explore varied approaches to Lieder in contemporary performance culture in order to consider what the genre means for performers and audiences today.