What is Schubert Winterreise about?
The lyrics are poems by Wilhelm Müller and tell the story of a lonely traveller who ventures out into the snow on a journey to rid himself of his lost love. Along the way he experiences a turmoil of different emotions, mostly ranging from despair to greater despair.
What was Franz Schubert most famous pieces?
Franz Schubert is best remembered for his songs—also called lieder—and his chamber music. He also created symphonies, masses, and piano works. His most notable works included Erlkönig, written in 1815 and based on a poem by Goethe; Ave Maria!, written in 1825; and the Symphony No. 9 in C Major, begun in 1825.
What’s the meaning of Winterreise?
Winter Journey
Winterreise, (German: “Winter Journey”) cycle of 24 songs for male voice and piano composed in 1827 by Austrian composer Franz Schubert, with words by German poet Wilhelm Müller. Schubert was reviewing the publisher’s proofs of the cycle in the weeks before his death, shortly before his 32nd birthday.
What are the characteristics of music by Schubert Erlkönig?
The work is characterized by its highly polyphonic nature, the solo violin having to perform the Erlkönig, the father, and the child in their different vocal colorations, but also the complete piano accompaniment at the same time.
How does Schubert distinguish between father and son?
The narrator sings in a neutral, middle range, while the father sings in the low range, with a deep, booming voice. The son sings in a high, childlike range, while the Elf King sings quietly in an even higher range. Schubert also uses other techniques to distinguish his characters and bring the scene to life.
What is Winterreise by Schubert?
Franz Schubert in 1825, painted from watercolour by Wilhelm August Rieder 1875. Wikimedia Schubert described Winterreise as being “truly terrible, songs which have affected me more than any others”. The songs take the audience on a journey that it is clear, by the very nature of the opening song, will end fatefully.
What is the theme of the poem Wasserflut?
In “Wasserflut” (Water Flood), the text describes tears flowing from his eyes as the snow absorbs his anguish, contrasted to the song “Gefrorne Tränen” (Frozen Tears) in which frozen teardrops fall from the wanderer’s eyes like ice. Snow and ice recur as themes as well, particularly in the first half of the cycle.
Does Schubert use musical elements to build the dramatic structure of Winterreise?
It is the purpose of this paper to examine the musical elements that Schubert uses to build the dramatic structure of the Winterreise texts. Schubert composed and published Winterreise in two halves, one in February 1827 and the other in October 1827.
Are Schubert’s Songs Divine Inspirations?
A literary and philosophical man, Vogl came to regard Schubert’s songs as “divine inspirations, the utterance of a musical clairvoyance”. The first song in Winterreise, Gute Nacht (Good Night) begins enigmatically, as our protoganist ventures out into the snow, accompanied by trudging and relentless short notes on the piano.