1 Jan 1854 Jahr - Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair (NAWM 131)

Beschreibung:

Composer: Stephen Foster
Genre: Parlor Song

Foster was briefly separated from his wife (Jane) in 1853-54, so it might have been written for her. It became so popular that many people learned the melody by ear, a common tradition of popular music. It was often arranged with new accompaniments, similar to pop songs today. Its initial purpose was similar to the Lieder: for amateurs to sing for their own enjoyment or for family and friends, following the sheet music essentially as printed.

Lyrics
Written by Foster, they idealize Jeanie with the images of nature (summer, air, streams, daisies, birds). The second and third verses turn darker (dying hopes, night winds, sobbing rain), leading to the revelation that Jeanie is gone, never to return. Sentiments of love, loss, and regret, and using nature imagery to convey feelings were common in nineteenth century song traditions (Lieder, parlor songs, popular songs)

Song
Despite the changing mood between stanzas, the song is strophic, framed by a brief piano prelude and a postlude after each stanza. The first half of each phrase is harmonically static, but the second half changes chords every half measure and then every beat, leading to a cadence. All but the last phrase close on the dominant, sustaining the forward momentum until the final tonic cadence. The accompaniment is subordinate to the voice, remaining simple and well within the abilities of amateur players or self-accompanying singers.

Melody
The piece employs text painting, with surpising leaps at “like a vapor”. Further, the frequent accented dissonances (neighbor tones) imply the lover’s yearning or even intoxication.

International Influences
Segments of melody alternate between the diatonic and the purely pentatonic, which evokes the style of Irish folk songs popularly associated with themes of nostalgia and distance. Additionally, the little cadenza before the last phrase adds an expressive touch from Italian opera.

Zugefügt zum Band der Zeit:

Datum:

YouTube: