Schubert Songs, Pt. V

1. Schubert’s
Style of Song, Pt. V

2. Der Blumenbrief
[The Message of Flowers]
( D - m a j o r , D 6 2 2 )
“ E x h i b i t s
perfection of form
with sweetness
and sincerity. The
e q u a l i t y o f
interest between
voice and piano is
complete, and the
m e s s a g e e n d s
wi th a si gh . ” §

3. Das Geheimnis
[ T h e S e c r e t ]
( G - m a j o r , D 7 9 3 )
“The innocence and
joy of the lovers’
secret is suggested
by the ‘tiptoeing’
accents, as betimes
Schubert summons
a r o c k i n g m o t i f
w h i c h h a s a
Viennese lilt about
it, giving way to a
mood of subdued
e c s t a s y . ” §

4. Das Weinen
[Weeping] (D-major, D926)
“Composed in Schubert’s
devotional ‘Church-style’
wherein he captures ‘a
feeling of right and true
d e v o t i o n ’ , t h e r e i s
s o m e t h i n g c o n s o l i n g
a b o u t t h i s s i m p l e
h y m n - l i k e s e t t i n g . ” §

6. A n L a u r a
[ F o r L a u r a ]
( E - m a j o r , D 1 1 5 )
“ S c h u b e r t
a d a p t e d h i s
‘devotional hymn-
style’ to construe
a s p e c t r u m o f
human feeling.” §

7. Die Betende
[ P r a y e r ]
( B - m a j o r , D 1 0 2 )
“ T h e f i r s t o f
Schubert’s ‘secular’
hymns in his ‘Church-
s t y l e ’ m a n n e r ,
wherein he conveys
the idea of a purity of
f e e l i n g . ” §

8. Die Blumansprache
[ L a n g u a g e
o f F l o w e r s ]
( B b - m a j o r , D 5 1 9 )
“A passionate song in
praise of spring with
g r e a t t o n a l f r e e d o m
and lyrical impetus.” §

9. Sprache der Liebe
[Language of Love]
( E - m a j o r , D 4 1 0 )
“The song begins with
quiet tenderness, and
g r o w s w i t h
cumulative power to a
climax; the effect is
t h a t o f a l o n g
crescendo of feeling
m a r k e d b y
S c h u b e r t i a n
m o d u l a t i o n s o f
striking originality.” §

10. Beim Winde
[ W i t h t h e W i n d ]
( g - m i n o r , D 6 6 9 )
“ T h e o u t e r
s e c t i o n s a r e
delightful in the
m a j o r - m i n o r
alter nations. In
t h e m i d d l e
sections Schubert
follows the sense
c l o s e l y . ” §

11. Am Strome
[B y t h e S t r e a m ]
( B - m a j o r , D 5 3 9 )
“Uses the ‘stream
of life’ image to
convey the longing
for a better world.
T h e m o o d i s
sweetly lyrical in a
p l a c i d f l ow. ” §

12. § All quotations from John Reed (1997)
T h e S c h u b e r t S o n g C o mp an i o n ,
P a l g r a v e , N Y .