Analysis B

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Blog #6

Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, “Bitte” (poem by Nikolaus Lenau)

Roman numerals in the Key of A-flat Major:
m.9 – I65
m.10 – iv
m.11 – I43
m. 12 – V7
m.13 – iv
m.14 – ii
m.15 – I V
m.16 – I

This is a song for voice and piano set to a poem by Nikolaus Lenau called “Bitte.” In measures 5, 9, 13, and 16 they end with half, authentic, and perfect authentic cadences. In measure 13 the harmony uses parallel octaves descending in major seconds and minor seconds in the soprano, tenor, and bass voices of the piano accompaniment, also an a-flat held out in the alto voice. I think this part really sticks out because of the moving parallel octaves. In measures 9-16 it repeats the text that translates to “somber, mild, dream-like, unfathomably sweet night” and “so that above my life you alone will float for ever and ever”. The melody for these lines in the poem has similar melodic contours as it reoccurs in the song. This song is 19 measures and an anacrusis, but it repeats to fit the text of the poem. In measures 15-19, for the last part of the text it’s translated to “for ever and ever” and Fanny wrote out that a I chord is just kind of held out for a few beats and it gives the text painting of going on for ever and ever.