Kirchner, Theodor: Vier Elegien

The Four Elegies for Pianoforte op. 37 were first published in November 1878 by Julius Hainauer in Breslau. They are dedicated to the singer and painter Hedwig von Holstein. Her husband, the composer and lyricist Franz von Holstein, had died in May of the same year. It is likely that the Four Elegies were composed in his memory. Franz von Holstein had written five poems on his deathbed, three of which Kirchner set to music and which were published as Opus 40 the following year. (Jürg Löffler)