As well as writing songs to mark his own marriage – the renowned Op. 27 set comprising '
Ruhe, meine Seele', '
Cäcilie', '
Heimliche Aufforderung' and 'Morgen' (still yet to come in the
Advent series) – Strauss wrote three songs in 1895 for his sister Johanna's wedding (published as Op. 31). 'Blauer Sommer', a setting of words by Karl Busse, is a rich rhapsody on nature's estival joys. The vocal line has a confessional, swooning quality – this is, after all, a summer of great heat – while the piano repeats the same accompanimental pattern at differing sequential pitches, building at last to the image of the whole world charged with red roses, a fitting love token for the bride.
Click here to listen to Edita Gruberova's recording.
The painting is 'Thunersee von Leissigen' by Ferdinand Hodler.
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