Mehrstimmige Gesänge, H.XXVc 1796–9
# 7: Daphnens einziger Fehler Franz Joseph Haydn composed his 13 Mehrstimmige Gesänge, H.XXVc, between 1796–9 following two successful trips to London. Having been exposed to the English glee tradition, and incorporating the nineteenth-century Viennese social music genre for vocal ensembles, Haydn composed his partsongs, “con amore in happy times and without commission.” (Griesinger) Johann Nikolaus Götz's (1721-1781) poem, Daphnens einziger Fehler (Daphne’s only fault) describes a young maiden (Daphne) who lived a pastoral existence and who rejected every lover including the Greek god Apollo. She is compared to Psyche, a mythological princess of exquisite beauty who was eventually made immortal and given in marriage to Cupid. Daphne is also compared to Hebe, the goddess of youth and wife of Hercules. Daphne is beautiful and urbane. If only she knew how to love! This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.