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1 | The Lied

The ordinary German word for song is Lied (plural, Lieder — pronounced “leader”). The word also has a special application: the lied is a particular type of German song that evolved in the late eighteenth century and flourished in the nineteenth. As such, the lied is one of the most important “miniature” genres of the Romantic era.

Though one cannot generalize about the melodies of these songs — some consist of little more than a tune, others are melodically much more complex — they share some other characteristic features.

Accompaniment. A lied is nearly always accompanied by piano alone, and the accompaniment contributes significantly to the artistic effect. Indeed, the pianist becomes more of a discreet partner to the singer than a mere accompanist.
Poetry. The text of a lied is usually a Romantic poem of some merit (at least in the composer’s estimation). Hence, although we need to understand the words of almost any vocal music, with the lied we should also try to appreciate how the poem’s words and meanings fit together as poetry. The art of the lied depends on the sensitivity of the composer’s response to the poetic imagery and feeling.
Mood. A third characteristic, harder to explain, is the intimacy of expression that is captured by these pieces. The singer and the pianist seem to be sharing an emotional insight with just you, rather than with an entire audience; words and music are uttered softly, inwardly. Composers intended lieder for the intimacy of a living room, not a formal concert hall, and that is where they are best heard.