This art song was originally conceived for solo voice and piano rather than chamber choir. In his arrangement, Denis Rouger has carefully adapted it to the needs and expressive capabilities of a larger ensemble while at the same time preserving the character and qualities of the original. Each vocal part enjoys its own melodic line extracted from the harmonic and rhythmic framework. The variety and sophistication of this choral arrangement takes full account of the enormous flexibility in interpretation and expression demanded of soloist and pianist by French mélodies or German Lieder.

“Gedanken gehen und Lieder fort bis ins Himmelreich” (Thoughts and songs rise up into the Kingdom of Heaven). These closing words and notes of the song Bergeslust (Mountain lust) adorn the gravestone of the composer Fanny Hensel (née Mendelssohn), who died suddenly of a stroke in 1847 at the age of just 41. Her husband, the painter Wilhelm Hensel, published her final song Bergeslust on a poem by Joseph von Eichendorff posthumously as Op. 10, together with four other songs. The cheerful setting in 6/8 time, marked “Allegro molto vivace e leggiero”, displays no grim foreboding of death. Rather, it sparkles with a love of life and joy in nature and music.