Acht Gedichte aus “Letzte Blätter”

RICHARD STRAUSS was a much-celebrated German composer and conductor who is understood by many to have captured the essence of the German Period of Romanticism and his works encompass almost every type of compositional form, noting that many of his compositions became standards of the operatic and orchestral repertoire.  While being personally recognized as one of the leading conductors in Western Europe, and internationally as well, he is also known for his lieder (songs), noting also that Strauss is thought to have composed most of these songs with the voice of his wife in mind, writing them for voice and piano accompaniment.   

As the story is sometimes told, it was Ludwig Thuille, also a prominent Austrian operatic composer, who introduced Strauss to the poetry of Hermann von Gilm, Austrian lawyer and poet, whose authored works caught Strauss’ attention.  Strauss’ admiration for Gilm’s work eventually brought him to compose a series of eight art songs found in Gilm’s literary collection Letzte Blätter (Last Leaves or Last Pages).

 Strauss’ completed musical work, entitled Acht Lieder aus ‘Letzte Blätter,’ op. 10 (Eight Songs from Last Pages), was first published in the year 1887, with the intention that all would be written for the tenor voice, and the collection is thought to contain some of Strauss’ most appreciated and respected art songs of the period.