Many of Schubert's part-songs were written either as commissioned works or as 'social music' for informal performances among his friends and acquaintances.
Composition History
Franz Schubert composed around 130 mixed-voice part-songs throughout his life, ranging from simple canons to elaborate works with piano accompaniment, soloists, chorus, and orchestra.
Historical Context
In Schubert's time, there was no established choral tradition outside the church in southern German-speaking regions, unlike the singing clubs and male-voice choirs prevalent in the north.
Performer Biography
Ulrich Eisenlohr, the pianist on this album, is the Artistic Advisor for the entire Deutsche Schubert-Lied-Edition project, selecting young German Lieder singers for the recordings.
Recording & Production
The Deutsche Schubert-Lied-Edition, of which this album is a part, aims to group all of Schubert's over 700 Lieder according to the poets who inspired him.
Interpretation
The performance forces for Schubert's part-songs are often flexible; pieces like "Viel tausend Sterne prangen" can be performed equally well with either solo voices or a chorus.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Schubert's choice to set a poem as a solo song or a part-song often depended on the text's content, such as suggesting a multi-voiced approach or stipulating a change of roles.
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Schubert: Selected Songs
Schubert: Lieder & Vocal Quartets
The Schubert Album
Schubert: Goethe Lieder
Schubert: Lieder Vol. 1
Schubert & Schumann: Lieder
Heinz Rehfuss - The Decca Recitals
Rufinatscha: Lieder
Schubert: Hoffnung
Gods & Monsters
Schubert, F.: Lieder, Vol. 1 - Opp. 1-24
Strauss, R.: 17 Lieder; Wolf: Italienisches Liederbuch
