1. The Enjoyment of Music 10th Shorter Edition

2. Unit XVI Nineteenth-Century Art Song
“Out of my great sorrows I make my little songs.”
—Heinrich Heine
The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition

3. The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition
42. The Romantic Song
German art song
Lied, Lieder
Schubert, “Gretchen am Spinnrade”
Schumann, “Die Soldatenbraut”
41. The Romantic Song
German art song, or Lied ( solo voice and piano), was one of most favored genres
Plural is Lieder
The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition

4. Types of Song Structure
Strophic
Through-composed forms (durchkomponiert)
Modified strophic
Schumann: “Die Soldatenbraut”
Schubert: “Gretchen am Spinnrade”
Type of Song Structure
Strophic: same melody repeated with each stanza, or strophe, of poem
Through-composed forms (durchkomponiert, in German): no repetitions of whole sections, music follows the story line
Modified strophic: combines features of two other forms
The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition

5. The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition
The Lied
German text
Voice and piano
Romantic composers of the genre:
Schumann: “Die Soldatenbraut”
Franz
Schubert
The Lied
German-texted solo vocal song with piano accompaniment
Romantic composers of the genre:
Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms, Hugo Wolf, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Clara Schumann, Amy Cheney Beach
Robert
Schumann
Fanny
Mendelssohn
Hensel
Amy
Cheney
Beach
Johannes
Brahms
Clara
Schumann
The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition

6. The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition
The Lied
Song cycle
Love and nature
Romantic poets: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Heinrich Heine
Popularity of the piano
The Lied
Song cycle: groups of Lieder unified in some way
The poetry of the Lied exploits themes of love and nature
Romantic poets: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Heinrich Heine
Popularity of art song aided by emergence of the piano as universal household instrument
The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition

7. 42. Schubert and the Lied Franz Schubert (1797–1828)
Viennese composer
Early musical prowess
Socially shy
Gifted songwriter
Home and salon concerts
Regional fame
Death at an early age (31) from syphilis
42. Schubert and the Lied
Franz Schubert (1797–1828)
Viennese composer
Early musical prowess
Socially shy
Gifted songwriter
Music world centered in the home and salon concerts
Not an internationally known virtuoso
Death at an early age (31) from syphilis
Schubert: “Gretchen am Spinnrade”
The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition

8. The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition
Schubert’s Music
Classical and Romantic traits
Chamber music is late example of Viennese Classicism
Piano works exhibit a new lyricism
600-plus songs
Schubert’s Music
Symphonies are Classical
Lieder and piano pieces are wholly Romantic
Chamber music is directly in line with Viennese Classicism
Piano works exhibit a new lyricism
More than 600 songs
Schubert: String Quartet in C, III
The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition

9. Schubert: Erlking (Erlkönig) (Listening Guide)
Goethe
Piano establishes atmosphere
Four characters: narrator, father, son, Erlking
One singer
Through-composed
Obsessive triplets in piano
Erlking (Erlking) (Listening Guide)
Masterpiece of Schubert’s youth
Poem by Goethe
Eerie atmosphere established by the piano
Galloping of horse emulated by piano
Poem’s four characters: narrator, father, son, Erlking, are all sung by one person
Through-composed, music follows the action
Obsessive triplets in piano drop out at end for dramatic effect
Listening Guide PDF
The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition

10. 44. Robert Schumann and the Song Cycle
“The singing voice is hardly sufficient in itself; it cannot carry the whole task of interpretation un-aided. In addition to its overall expression, the finer shadings of the poem must be represented as well – provided that the melody does not suffer in the process.” —Robert Schumann
43. Robert Schumann and the Song Cycle
The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition

11. The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition
Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
German composer and critic
Neue Zeitschrift für Musik (New Journal for Music)
Clara Wieck
Married in 1840, against father’s wishes
Clara as interpreter
Periods of depression
Final breakdown
Institutionalized
Died at 46
43. Robert Schumann and the Song Cycle
Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
German composer and critic
Left law studies to pursue music
Aspired to be a pianist, studied with Friedrich Wieck
Physical difficulties with right hand ended piano career
Turned to composition and music criticism
Established journal Neue Zeitschrift für Musik (New Journal for Music)
Courted Clara Wieck (16 years old)
They were finally married in 1840, against father’s wishes
Clara interpreted Robert’s compositions for piano
Robert suffered increasing periods of depression
Final breakdown was a failed attempt at suicide
Institutionalized for last two years of life
Died at 46
The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition

12. The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition
Schumann’s Music
Impassioned melody, novel harmony, driving rhythms
Literary meanings in music
Lieder, wrote several song cycles
Four symphonies
Emotional exuberance, impassioned melody, novel harmony, driving rhythms
Attached literary meanings to his music
Prolific composer of Lieder, wrote several song cycles
Four symphonies
Schumann: “Die Soldatenbraut
The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition

13. The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition
Schumann: “In the lovely month of May,” from A Poet’s Love (Dichterliebe) (Listening Guide)
Song cycle, psychological progression
1st song in cycle
Speaks of fragility of new love
Strophic form
Schumann: “And if the flowers knew,” from A Poet’s Love (Dichterliebe) (Listening Guide)
Song cycle, psychological progression
Comes from year of marriage, “year of song”
8th song in cycle
Speaks of lovesick grief
Modified strophic form, 4 verses
Listening Guide PDF
The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition

14. The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition
The Enjoyment of Music 10th, Shorter Edition