An Introduction to the Songs of Felix Wolfes (1892-1971) with Complete Chronological Catalogue
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Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1995 An Introduction to the Songs of Felix Wolfes (1892-1971) With Complete Chronological Catalogue. Viola R. Dacus Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Dacus, Viola R., "An Introduction to the Songs of Felix Wolfes (1892-1971) With Complete Chronological Catalogue." (1995). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 6004. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/6004 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. A Bell & Howell Information C om pany 300 North Z eeb Road. Ann Arbor. Ml 481 0 6 -1 3 4 6 USA 313/761-4700 800/521-0600 AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SONGS OF FELIX WOLFES (1892-1971) WITH COMPLETE CHRONOLOGICAL CATALOGUE A Monograph Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in The School of Music by Viola R. Dacus B.M., University of M ississippi, 1985 M.M., Louisiana State University, 1988 August 1995 UMI Number: 9609078 Copyright 1995 by Dacus, Viola R. All rights reserved. UMI Microform 9609078 Copyright 1996, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 © Copyright 1995 Viola. Regan Dacus All rights reserved ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge and thank all of those who helped make this work possible, particularly Angelika Forsberg and Richard Aslanian for sharing their personal knowledge of Mr. Wolfes. I would also like to thank the people of the Felix Wolfes Estate and Theodore Presser Company for their generosity in the use of scores, and thanks also to the helpful staff of the Houghton Library at Harvard University. I am grateful to the members of my supervising committee, especially Robert Grayson and Jennifer Brown for their enthusiasm, time, and advice. Finally, I would like to thank my husband Ed for his characteristically constant support. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................iii LIST OF SCORES............................................................................................................. v ABSTRACT................................. vi CHAPTER ONE: FELIX WOLFES: COMPOSER AND CONDUCTOR............. 1 CHAPTER TWO: THE SONGS OF FELIX WOLFES...............................................6 1. Auf dem See (1943; Ernst B ertram ) ........................................................9 2. Bluhender Kirschbaum (1958; Christian W agner) .......................... 18 3. Blume, Baum, Vogel (1951; Herm ann H esse) .................................. 31 4. Die Nachtigall (1930; Theodor Storm ) .................................................38 5. Du schlank und rein wie eine Flamme (1944; Stefan G eorge) 45 6. Erdgewalt (1958; Rudolf B inding).........................................................52 7. Gefunden (1958; Johann Wolfgang von G o eth e) ............................. 62 8. Immer wieder (1941; Rainer Maria R ilke) ..........................................70 9. Kleiner Rat (1961; Wolfgang Amadeus M ozart) .............................. 76 10. Weihnachten (1940; Joseph von Eichendorff) ..................................83 CHAPTER THREE: SONG CATALOGUE..............................................................92 REFERENCES................................................................................................................ 164 APPENDIX A: ALPHABETICAL INDEX TO CATALOGUE............................167 APPENDIX B: CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF SONGS......................................... 172 APPENDIX C: LETTERS OF PERMISSION............................................................178 VITA ................................................................................................................................182 i v LIST OF SCORES 1. AufdemSee ...............................................................................................................10 2. Bliihender Kirschbaum ............................................................................................19 3. Blume, Baum, Vogel ................................................................................................33 4. Die Nachtigall ............................................................................................................ 40 5. Du schlank und rein wie eine Flamme ................................................................46 6. Erdgewalt....................................................................................................................54 7. Gefunden .....................................................................................................................63 8. Immer wieder .................... 71 9. W eihnachten .............................................................................................................. 84 v ABSTRACT The German-born composer and conductor Felix Wolfes (1892-1971) left a substantial legacy of over two hundred inspired and finely crafted songs. These works have earned him a place among his self-proclaimed ancestors, Brahms, Wolf, Strauss, Mussorgsky, and his teachers, Reger and Pfitzner. Unfortunately, both the composer and his works remain virtually unknown today. Wolfes's output as a composer consists almost entirely of German lieder. His style is strongly rooted in the Romantic tradition of earlier lieder composers, but Wolfes did more than merely imitate his predecessors. While the majority of his output suggests a conservative post-tonal idiom, he frequently stretched the boundaries of tonality further through chromaticism and even ventured into atonality. Wolfes's greatest achievement was not, however, the development of a characteristic "Wolfes" style. His genius lay rather in his ability to create music that evolved directly from the poetry. It was in this way that he was able to accomplish a true melding of word and music, and to create a body of unique and individual works. The purpose of this monograph is to provide an introduction to Felix Wolfes and his songs. The paper is divided into three chapters, the first of which presents biographical information, including his family, education, and professional activity. Chapter Two begins with a brief discussion of general stylistic trends. This is followed by a detailed study of ten songs vi considered by the author to be some of the most appealing and accessible to both performer and audience. Chapter Three is an annotated catalogue of all 208 of Wolfes's lieder, both published and unpublished. Each entry contains the title, poet, date of composition, dedication, vocal range, initial tempo indication, publication information, length in measures, and an incipit. CHAPTER ONE FELIX WOLFES: COMPOSER AND CONDUCTOR The German-born composer and conductor Felix Wolfes (1892-1971) left a substantial legacy of over two hundred inspired and finely crafted songs. These works have earned him a place among his "self-proclaimed ancestors,"! Brahms, Wolf, Strauss, Mussorgsky, and his teachers, Reger and Pfitzner. Unfortunately, both the composer and his works remain virtually unknown today. Wolfes's output as a composer, like that of Hugo Wolf (1860-1903), consists almost entirely of German lieder. His style is strongly rooted in the Romantic tradition of earlier lieder composers, but Wolfes did more than merely imitate his predecessors. While the majority of his output suggests a conservative post-tonal idiom, he frequently stretched the boundaries of tonality further through chromaticism and even ventured into atonality. Wolfes's greatest achievment was not, however, the development