More thoughts and viewpoints. Schubert’s friend, Franz Grillparzer, formulated this somewhat criticized inscription for Schubert’s gravestone: ”The art of music here entombed a rich possession; but even far fairer hopes. Here lies Franz Schubert.” It is said that Schubert during a meeting in 1820 with the rebellious students were detained and put into custody along …
Månatliga arkiv: mars 2021
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Thoughts and viewpoints. The singer Vogl, an academically educated man, described his songs as ”truly divine inspirations, extreme of musical lucidity.” Schubert was short, 151 cm tall, with a strong physique. Friends called him ”The Mushroom” considering his slightly round figure. Schubert set to music several poems by Goethe. The great poet never showed him …
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The song cycles. A song cycle is a collection of solo songs with instrumental accompaniment intended to be presented in its entirety. Often there is a story or a theme that holds the work together. Die Schöne Müllerin, D. 795Poet: Wilhelm Müller (1794-1827) Die Winterreise, D. 911Poet: Wilhelm Müller (1794-1827) Schwanengesang, D. 957Poets: Ludwig Rellstab …
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Seligkeit, D.433 In Hölty’s poem the protagonist imagines the heavenly halls where there is celebration, dancing and playing on the harp. He comes to new thoughts in the third verse facing the possibility that Laura may smile at him and decides that the present seems to be the better choice. The song is in E-major …
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Frülingsglaube, Op.20 No.2 In Schubert’s musical setting the song is given a melancholic undertone in the faith of the spring to come up with new hope. The text is written by Ludwig Uhland. The vocal part is very melodic, almost hymn like, and flows in smooth legato of the piano part which, like flowing water …
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Nachtstück, Op.36 No.2 The song is a poetic portrayal of a dying man, authored by Mayrhofer. The song has obvious mythological undertones and a clear ”Sturm und Drang” profile. Nachtstück is through-composed and may be perceived as a musical miniature drama. The song was set to music in 1819 and published in 1825. In a …
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Ave Maria, Ellens dritter Gesang, Op. 52 No.6 Ave Maria is a musical setting of text from Walter Scott’s poem The Lady of the Lake. Despite the title, the text is completely independent of the prayer with the same name. The song, which Schubert set to music in 1824, has come to be called Ave …
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Du bist die Ruh Op.59 No.8 The piece is one of the most vocally demanding, where the text is reminiscent of a prayer without explicit religious overtones. The song is brilliant in its strong emotional expression and represents the romantic style with classy minimalist variations in dynamics and harmonies, which are found in both piano …
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The choice of Lieder in SchubertAppen. Gretchen am Spinnrade, D.118, Op.2Gretchen, obsessed and unrequited by love to the false Faust, is portrayed in a dramatic vocal part and a most vivid piano accompaniment. The voice reaches its peak and the piano suddenly turns silent when Gretchen remembers Faust’s kiss. When the piano starts over Gretchen …
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Schuberts’ Lieder Lieder can be described as the barest subgenre of chamber music, composed for private, intimate context. Schubert’s work on six hundred Lieder is what posterity remembers him most for. The Lieder genre was a development of the German song tradition. Many contemporary composers wrote songs because there was a demand in the salon …