#5lieder

2. Heinrich von Herzogenberg (1843-1900)

Herzogenberg was born in Graz to a wealthy family. As a student he studied law and philosophy in Vienna, but abandoned this to be taught composition by (like Fuchs) Otto Dessoff. In 1868 he married Elizabeth von Stockhausen the daughter of Hanover's ambassador to Vienna. She had studied with Brahms. Around this time, now living in Graz, Herzogenberg was working as a freelance composer and writing larger scale works in a more Wagnerian style. However, he underwent a kind of stylistic transformation andpublished very little for a couple of years. 

In 1872 the couple moved to Leipzig and by this time Herzogenberg was writing more chamber music, with a Brahmsian influence. In 1874 he co founded the Bach Society, a year later he became director, a post which lasted for ten years. In 1892 his wife died aged only 44, followed two years later by his close friend Philipp Spitta. Herzogenberg's big influence was Brahms, who was very frugal with his approval of Heinrich's work. But for me, although their modus operandi may be similar, the harmonies and melodies are not, and through these writing differences reveal the different authors' characteristics. 

Here follows a heart piercingly beautiful song, possibly influenced by the tragedies mentioned above, performed by soprano Hélène Lindqvist and pianist Philipp Vogler of The Art Song Project.

Songs/lieder by other composers that are really worth a listen:

Hans Pfitzner

Ludwig Thuille

Hans Eisler (Hollywood Songbook)