Hugo Wolf, an adopted Viennese of Slovenian descent, was an eccentric sensualist with a piercing gaze and an awkward character.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Wolf's music without words was often considered colourless, lacking structure and direction, as evidenced by his few instrumental compositions.
Critical Reception
Wolf considered his song 'Erstes Liebeslied eines Mädchens' (A Young Girl's First Love Song) to be his best work at the time, calling everything before it 'child's play'.
Compositional Technique
Wolf's lieder often feature an emancipated piano accompaniment that goes beyond Schumann's efforts, using Wagnerian motivic patterns to avoid traditional forms.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Wolf saw a reflection of his own personality in Eduard Mörike, a poet who used art to cope with overwhelming mental torments.
Composition History
Wolf's most significant creative period, where he wrote a crucial chapter of musical history, spanned only a few years between 1888 and 1897.
Compositional Technique
Wolf's piano parts often include discordant elements, counter-arguments, or comments that can contradict the text's meaning, placing it in an unexpected light.
