Hanging By A Crotchet - 10: Lieder

Of all of the great developments that emerged from the Germanic musical world, Lieder is certainly one of the greatest. While it might just translate as ‘songs’ the tradition of lieder is so much more than of just song. Lieder is the tradition in German art music of setting poetry to music, where every detail of the poem is taken in careful consideration and set to music in such a way that the words are literally elevated from the page. The tradition of lieder reached its height in the 19th century, when German romanticism dominated the European musical landscape and it also spawned many related traditions, in particular with their frequent political and musical rivals - the French - who developed Mélodie as their counterpart, and also the English Song. Listen to delve into the world of German Lieder, and hear some of its finest examples.