Daily Beethoven

Schubert: Die Wintereisse, Auf dem Fluße- D 911-7

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

In "Auf dem Fluße" (At the Stream), the seventh song in Schubert’s song cycle “Winterreise” (Winter Journey), the narrator addresses his old friend the stream, now covered with ice.

Schubert: Die Winterreise, Wasserflut- D. 911-6

Monday, July 5, 2021

Wasserflut (Torrent) -- the sixth song in Schubert’s Winterreise (Winter Journey). As he continues his journey, the unhappy narrator imagines that in springtime when the snow melts, his tears will burn as the stream carries them past his sweetheart’s house.

Schubert: Die Winterreise, Der Lindenbaum- D. 911-5

July 4th, 2021

"Der Lindenbaum” (The Linden Tree) is the best-known and best-beloved of all the songs in Schubert’s song cycle “Winterreise” (Winter Journey).

Schubert: Die Winterreise, Erstarrung- D. 911-4

Saturday, July 3, 2021

In “Erstarrung” (Numbness), the fourth song in Schubert’s “Winterreise”, the narrator laments that he can find no memento of the walks he used to take with his sweetheart.

Schubert: Die Winterreise, Gefrorne Tränen - D. 911-3

Friday, July 2, 2021

When Schubert invited his friends to hear the first 12 songs from “Winterreise” (Winter Journey), he described them as “schauerlicher” (chilling or ghastly). His friends were indeed put off by the dark mood of the songs, but Schubert assured them that they would come to love them. The third song is called “Gefrorne Tränen“ (Frozen Tears).

Schubert: Die Winterreise, Die Wetterfahne- D. 911-2:

Thursday, July 1, 2021

In this second song from Schubert’s „Die Winterreise“ (The Winter Journey), our subject reflects ironically on the symbolism of the weathercock, and shares his reason for leaving.

Schubert: Die Winterreise, Gute Nacht- D. 911-1

Wednesday, June 30, 2021

Schubert’s “Die Winterreise” (The Winter Journey) is a setting of 24 poems by Wilhelm Mueller, the author of the poems in the earlier cycle “Die Schoene Muellerin”. Unlucky in love, the man sets out in winter for an unknown destination.

Schubert: Nachtgesang im Walde, D.913

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Beethoven of course had many talented contemporaries. But, Schubert, much Beethoven's junior in age, but who lived in the same city as Beethoven for over 30 years, was arguably the closest in spirit to Beethoven achieved by anyone. Beethoven himself indicated that Schubert was a genius. The wonderful serenade "Nachtgesang im Walde“ (Night Song in the Forest), for four horns and men’s chorus, was one of the pieces which Schubert composed for the concert which took place on the first anniversary of Beethoven’s death.

Schubert: Auf dem Strom, D. 943

Monday, June 28, 2021

March 26, 1828 was the first anniversary of the death of Ludwig van Beethoven, and was also the date of the sole public concert given by Franz Schubert. Among the works premiered on that occasion was “Auf dem Strom” (On the River), a lovely song of farewell set for voice, piano, and horn. At the start of the second verse, Schubert subtly weaves in the “Funeral March” theme from Beethoven’s Third Symphony as a tribute to the great master. Schubert would himself pass away in November of that same year.

Schubert: D. 875a, Die Allmacht

Sunday, June 27, 2021

It’s fairly certain that Schubert attended Beethoven’s grand concert or “Akademie” which took place May 7, 1824 in Vienna, where the Choral Symphony was first performed along with three movements from the Missa Solemnis. Schubert’s choral setting of “Die Allmacht” (D 875a) may have been a first draft for a choral finale to a new symphony of his own.

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