A singer's and teacher's guide to the Lieder of Joseph Marx

Abstract

This document examines the use of the Lieder of Joseph Marx for voice teachers and performers. The main thrust of the research, pedagogical use, leads to a study of Post-Wagnerian requirements for the voice and the use of Marx Lieder in developing vocal technique for the operatic literature of the late nineteenth and twentieth century. Influence of contemporary movements upon Marx such as the Jugendstil and the Lieder tradition are studied to help reveal artistic merit and pedagogical use. Marx's harmonic language is analyzed in relationship to artistic merit. The eight songs studied are: "Bitte," "Der bescheidene Schafer," "Waldseligkeit," "Valse de Chopin," "Errinerung," "Und gestern hat er mir Rosen gebracht," "Hat dich die Liebe beruhrt," and "Der Ton." A connection is drawn between pedagogical use, artistic merit and the performance of this literature in the song recital. An appendix is presented which suggest the possible programming ideas for relatively unknown Marx lieder.