Description

The eight songs of Richard Strauss' Op. 10 Lieder, set to texts by the now little-known poet Hermann von Gilm, hold a special place in the composer's vocal output. Composed in 1885, this was the first time Strauss had set an entire song cycle to the words of a single poet. The resulting collection, published for the first time that year, contains some of Strauss' most beloved and frequently performed Lieder, such as "Zueignung," "Die Nacht," and "Allerseelen." Though these individual numbers have become staples, the cycle as a whole, with its well-crafted structure, also merits closer examination and performance. In choosing this highly Romantic subject of unrequited love, the aspiring Strauss consciously aligned himself with the Lied tradition stretching from Schubert to Wolf, exploring the diverse facets of the theme.

Strauss' original 1887 high voice publication of Op. 10 was later followed by transposed versions for middle and low registers during the composer's lifetime - a practice that would become standard for his songs. Henle's new Urtext edition draws upon these established transpositions to present this wondrous song cycle in a range accessible to all voice types.