Scoring and Performance
The work is scored for a vocal soloist (the notes lie comfortably for a baritone or mezzo-soprano) and an orchestra consisting of piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, cor anglais (English horn), 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, timpani, glockenspiel, tam-tam, celesta, harp, and strings.
The composer wrote, concerning the performance of the work, "these five songs are intended as one inseparate unit, and in performing them their continuity should not be interfered with".
The Kindertotenlieder were premiered in Vienna on January 29, 1905. Friedrich Weidemann was the soloist, and the composer conducted.
The work takes about 25 minutes to perform.
Read more about this topic: Kindertotenlieder
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