Here are two gentle, intimate Brahms songs where the singer addresses someone younger – Therese op. 86 no. 1 (text by Keller) and Serenade “Liebliches Kind” op. 70 no. 3 (text by Goethe)
In Therese the young person’s eyes have obviously revealed some intense feelings, which read like a delightful and provocative question to the knowing, experienced poet: “What a question you ask! Wise men would have no answer for you but perhaps I know where you might find it …”
In Serenade it’s the poet who’s asking the question – why do people make themselves so unhappy and alone? I think the poet here doesn’t expect the younger person to know the answer, but I like to think that the question is nevertheless posed in the hope of eliciting a particular response.
