Chapter 16 Romantic Songs

1. Chapter 16Romantic Songs “No one understands another’s grief, no one understands another’s joy. . . . My music is a product of my talent and my misery. And that which I have written in my greatest distress is what the world seems to like best.” Franz Schubert

2. The Salon • Industrial Revolution created large middle class • Piano became common household item • Family members would perform in informal concerts • Concerts—known as salons—followed by dessert, coffee and tea, and conversation • Upper class catered events, similar to earlier patronage by Esterházy family and others, professional musicians hired

3. The Art Song • Salon settings featured solo works for piano and art songs • Art song: musical setting of a poem for solo voice and piano • German lied (lieder) became standard term because many were written by German and Austrian composers in German language • Strophic and through-composed settings used • Modified-strophic setting also developed – some verses repeated music, others didn’t

4. Franz Schubert(1797-1828) • Born in Vienna northwest suburb father was school teacher • Unsystematic musical training violin lessons from father piano lessons from older brother • 1808, choir member of Imperial Court Chapel attended prestigious City Seminary violinist in school orchestra, later conducted • Began composing while at Seminary: songs, religious works, six string quartets

5. Franz Schubert (cont.)(1797-1828) • 1813, composed first symphony • Returned home after attending college for primary-school teachers Taught briefly at father’s school Not suited to school teaching • 1817, returned to Vienna Resolved to make a living composing and teaching lessons • 1822, serious illness required hospital stay • Last four years of life were constant struggle Died in 1828 Buried near Beethoven as he wished

6. Schubert’s Music • Between 1811 and 1828 composed about one thousand works • 9 symphonies • 50 chamber works and piano sonatas • Operas and operettas • Six masses and other religious works • c. 100 choral works • 600+ lieder

7. Listening Guide: “Erlkönig” (“King of the Elves”)Franz Schubert • Composed in 1815 • Through-composed • Text calls for soloist to take on the roles of Narrator, medium range, steady Father, low range Son, high range, terrified Elf king, high, soft, and gentle at first • Pitch range, dynamics, and style of melody reinforce characterization • Piano depicts incessant pounding of horse’s hooves

8. Listening Guide: “Erlkönig” (“King of the Elves”)Franz Schubert German text: Narrator Wer reitet so spät durch Nacht und Wind? Est ist der Vater mit seinem Kind. Er hat den Knaben wohl in dem Arm Er faßt in sicher, er hält ihn warm. Father Mein Sohn, was birgst du so band dein Gesicht? Son Siehst, Vater, du den Erlkönig nicht? Den Erlenkönig, mit Kron’ und Schweif? Father Mein Sohn, es ist ein Nebelstreif. Elf King Du liebes Kind, komm geh’ mit mir! Gar schöne Spiele spiel’ Ich mit dir; Manch’ bunte Blumen sind am die Strand, Meine Mutter hat manch’ gulden Gewand.

9. Listening Guide: “Erlkönig” (“King of the Elves”)Franz Schubert Son Mein Vater, mein Vater, und hörest du nicht, Was Erlenkönig mir leise verspricht? Father Sei ruhig, bleibe ruhig mein Kind; In durren Blättern säuselt der Wind. Elf King Willst, feiner Knabe, mit mir gehn? Meine Töchter sollen dich warten schön; Meine Töchter führen den nächtlichen Reihn’ Und weigen und tanzen und singen dich ein. Son Mein Vater, mein Vater, und siehst du nich dort Erlkönigs Töchter am düstern Ort?

10. Listening Guide: “Erlkönig” (“King of the Elves”)Franz Schubert Father Mein Sohn, mein Sohn, ich she’ est genau; Es scheinen die alten Weiden so grau. Elf King Ich liebe dich, mich reizt deine schöne Gestalt; Und bist du nicht willing so brauch’ ich Gewalt. Son Mein Vater, mein Vater, jetzt fast er mich an! Erlkönig hat mir ein Leids gethan! Narrator Der Vater grauset’s er reitet gescwhind Er halt in der Armen des achzende Kind, Erreicht den Hof mit Müh und Not; In seinem Arm das Kind – war tot.

11. Robert and Clara Schumann • Robert born in Zwichau, Germany, 1810 • Son of writer, publisher, bookseller • Studied music as child but entered law school • Gave up study of law for music • 1830, took piano lessons from Friedrich Wieck • Wieck had daughter, Clara, born in 1820 • She was being trained as piano virtuoso, had already performed many times in Leipzig; would give concerts throughout Europe over next 2 years • Clara was also a composer

12. Robert and Clara Schumann(cont.) • Clara and Robert became friends • She asked his help in orchestrating her Piano Concerto in A Minor • Concerto premiered November, 1835, Felix Mendelssohn conducting the Gewandhaus orchestra • By 1832, Schumann gave up performing and Clara became interpreter of his music • 1834, Schumann founder and editor of Neue Zeitschrift für Musik (New Journal of Music) • Friendship between Robert and Clara turned to love

13. Robert and Clara Schumann(concluded) • Married in 1840 over objections of father • That year became “year of song” because of all the love songs Robert composed • Although they had large family (8 children), Clara continued to perform, he to compose • Robert began experiencing bouts of depression • Attempted suicide in 1854 • Was placed in an asylum for last two years of life, died at age 46 • Clara continued to perform his music; she died in 1896 at age 76

14. Listening Guide: “Im wunderschönen Monat Mai” (“In the Wonderfully Lovely Month of May”)Robert Schumann • Composed in 1840 • One of songs in song cycle, “Dichterliebe” (“A Poet’s Love”) • Uses rubato as expressive device • Means “robbed” time • Fluctuations of tempo occur • Final chord does not sound completely final because song is intended to lead into next song in cycle

15. Listening Guide: “Im wunderschönen Monat Mai” (“In the Wonderfully Lovely Month of May”)Robert Schumann German text: Im wunderschönen Monat Mai, Als alle Knospen sprangen, Da ist in meinem Herzen Die Liebe auf gegangen. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai, Als alle Vögel sangen, Da hab’ ich ihe gestanden Mein Sehnen und Verlangen.