Beethoven: Mit Mädeln sich vertragen, WoO 90

Description

Written in the early years of Ludwig van Beethoven's (1770-1827) career, Mit Mädeln sich vertragen is a setting of a poem by the same name penned by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, written for the 1776 play Claudine von Villa Bella. Composed sometime between 1790-1792 for solo bass voice and ensemble, it may have been written with German actor and operatic bass Joseph Lux in mind, as the two were members of a group traveling together to Mergentheim, Germany in September and October of 1791. The text discusses the ease with which the speaker agrees with women, yet their difficulties "getting along" with men — at a point, even recounting a brawl with colorful onomatopoeia. Instrumentation: 0.2.0.0: 2.0.0.0: Str (4-4-3-3-3 in set): Solo Bass (available separately).