Josephine Lang (1815-80) was a gifted, respected, prolific, and widely published song composers of the nineteenth century. This book recognizes the composer for her accomplishments. Its biographical portions interwoven with musical analyses offer a portrait of the composer as a woman and an artist.

Josephine Lang (1815-80) was one of the most gifted, respected, prolific, and widely published song composers of the nineteenth century, yet her life and works have remained virtually unknown. Now, this carefully researched, compelling, and poignant study recognizes the composer for her
remarkable accomplishments.
Based on years of study of unpublished letters, musical autographs, reviews, and the autobiographical poetry of Lang's husband, Reinhold K"ostlin, the biographical portions of the book offer a stunning portrait of the composer as a woman and an artist.
In-depth musical analyses interwoven with the biography will be illuminating to scholars and to musicians of all skill levels. The analyses reveal Lang's sensitivity to her chosen poetic texts, as well as the validity of her claim that her songs were her diary; the authors demonstrate that many of
the songs are directly connected to the events of Lang's life. The analyses are illustrated by an abundance of musical examples, including a number of complete songs. A companion CD, on which the authors have recorded 30 songs by Lang, complements the text.

"Josephine Lang, an important song composer from the mid-19th century, has had to wait a long time for an account of her life and works worthy of her prodigious gifts. At last we have this superb treatment by Harald and Sharon Krebs, steeped in the primary sources, rich in analytical detail, and accompanied by numerous score excerpts and recordings of thirty of Lang's songs performed by the authors. This is as thorough and engaging a treatment of Lang's life and works as we are ever likely to have."--Joseph N. Straus, Professor of Music Theory, CUNY Graduate Center