Classical Music | Tenor

Recorded on 08/11/2011, uploaded on 09/26/2011

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Robert Schumann was already familiar with the poetry of Justinus Kerner when in late 1840 he composed an entire song cycle based on selections from the poet’s works. Published as his opus 35, the 12 Gedicthe are perhaps unusual in that they do not reflect the otherwise joyful period of that prolific “Year of Song” during which his love for Clara came to fruition in their marriage. Instead, the songs echo feelings of longing and at times even sorrow. Though a song cycle, there is no narrative to it as there was in Schubert’s Die schöne Müllerin or Winterreise. However, there is a decidedly strong relationship between the tonic keys of each song—all (except for the one song in C major) are among the nearly related keys of E-flat major, in which four of the songs are written.

Considered the emotional climax of the cycle is the tenth song, Stille Tränen (“Silent Tears”). Kerner’s brief three-stanza poem is rife with emotion, revealing the tears shed many under the veil of night, beneath “Heaven’s wondrous blue.” Marked Sehr langsam (very slow), Schumann’s setting gives the singer every opportunity for a variety of expressive interpretations. The nocturnal setting of the poem is established with resonant chords in the lower register of the piano—an accompaniment that pervades through much of the song, even after the piano begins to imitate the vocalist’s melody. The vocal melody, on the other hand, progresses slowly with broad tones. Though beginning in C major, the song traverses a wide range of keys from A-flat major to E-flat major, and even achieving the distant key of C-flat major towards the final lines of the second stanza. All this adds a sense of wonder and mystery to Kerner’s moving poetry. After a melodic interlude from the piano, Schumann repeats the poem’s final two lines. However, the vocalist’s final cadence onto the tonic is accompanied by a deceptive cadence in the piano. A brief coda, gives a lyrical ending to the song.      Joseph DuBose

The Steans Music Institute is the Ravinia Festival's professional studies program for young musicians.