Sung by VIVIENNE CHATTERTON
Ach Lieb , Ich muss nun Seheiden (My Love, I must now leave thee), Op. 21
Die Frauen sind oft fromm und still (My Lady's Holy Quiet), Op. 21
Heimliche Aufforderung (Secret Persuasion), Op. 27
Ruhe meine Seele (Rest My Soul), Op. 27 Cacilie (Cecily), Op. 27
ACH Lieb, ich muss nun scheiden is a mournful song of farewell. It is short and of simple outline.
Die Frauen sind oft fromm und still is a homage to woman in general and not to one woman in particular. ',She is weak; a puff of air will bend her. But she sees farther than we do. There is strength in her prayer?. This is a rhapsodical song. The ending, with its high chords fading away into the distance, is expressive.
Heimliche Aufforderung starts off with a genial tune-' Eat, drink and be merry, love, on the festive day ! ' Soon the voice is lowered-' But afterwards we will steal forth into the garden together.' The whispering tone becomes more glowing, but the song ends in tranquillity.
Ruhe, meine Scele is not a love-song. This is a change. Strauss had to use what lyrics offered themselves in his country's literature, and most German lyrists are stricken either with love or with grief. In this case the wound is to be stanched.
In Cacilie Strauss indulges to the full his habit of heroic, exultant melody with a rushing, turbulent accompaniment and plunging modudulation. The song foreshadowed a style that was to be typical in Strauss's later works.