Schubert's relationship with the poetry of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a German writer and statesman, began in October 1814, leading to nearly fifty settings by summer 1817.
Critical Reception
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, known for his conservative musical tastes, showed little interest in Schubert's songs until late in his life, when he heard a performance of Erlkönig by prima donna Wilhelmine Schröder-Devrient.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in All Saints' Church, East Finchley, London, between December 18-21, 2017.
Compositional Technique
In the song An den Mond, the later setting (D296) has the moon shining high in the piano part while the voice sinks to its lowest register, symbolizing the 'labyrinth of the heart'.
Cultural Impact
Schubert's song Erlkönig, published as his Op 1, remained his most popular song throughout the 19th and into the 20th century.
Compositional Technique
Schubert's macabre ballad Der Zwerg (1822) is unified by two leitmotifs: a four-note 'fate' motif similar to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and Schubert's 'Unfinished' Symphony, and an angular figure depicting the dwarf's torment.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Schubert was drawn to Goethe's poetry for its immediacy, spontaneity of feeling, and its broad range, encompassing folk song, ballad, pantheism, love lyrics, and philosophical meditation.
