Listen to three songs by Alphons Diepenbrock. You can also view the manuscripts of the selected songs, as well as read the words of the relevant poems.

Es war ein alter König (2'54)
Robert Holl, bass/baritone
Rudolf Jansen, piano
NM Classics 92050 Songs 1 
Windows Media
 
In this song Diepenbrock painstakingly follows the rhythm of Heinrich Heine's ballad. Strong contrasts have been incorporated into the score, which radiates a dramatic passion. Beside the words 'er nahm eine junge Frau' (he took a young woman), Diepenbrock wrote 'Ironisch' (ironic) as a direction for the singer's diction and, at that moment, a confusing combination of rhythmic sound patterns arises.
Go to the manuscript  
 

Claire de lune (2'54)
Roberta Alexander, soprano
Rudolf Jansen, piano
NM Classics 92051 Songs 2  
Windows Media
 
In 1907 Diepenbrock orchestrated this song; which he had composed in 1898 based on a poem by Paul Verlaine. The mysterious nature of 'Clair de lune' (Moonlight) is more particularly expressed in the modal melody of the middle voice. The melancholy moonlight is audible in the gentle piano accompaniment.
Go to the manuscript  
 

Mandoline (1'48)
Roberta Alexander, soprano
Rudolf Jansen, piano
NM Classics 92051 Songs 2  
Windows Media
 
In 1909, Diepenbrock wrote the music to a poem by Paul Verlaine about four admirers serenading the beauties they worshipped. The song, dancing on nimble feet, is shrouded in a mysterious clair-obscure and has a surprisingly loud ending - a rarity in Diepenbrock's music!
Go to the manuscript