Perhaps drawn to the eerie scene of Friedrich von
Matthisson's poem Der Geistertanz ("Ghost Dance"), Franz Schubert set it
to music no less than four times between 1812 and 1816—twice in 1812 and once
in 1814 for solo voice and piano and again in 1816 as a part song for
unaccompanied male chorus.
The spectral scene of Matthisson's poem begins with
the ghosts of those deceased dancing above their graves at the stroke of
midnight. Piano and voice begin the song in unison, rising and falling along
the tonic triad of C minor. This opening figure, which becomes the principal
motif of the song, is made all the more eerie by the inclusion of F-sharp
before it peaks on the dominant. The dance-like motion of the song is
interrupted twice where Schubert masterfully gives musical utterance to the
imagery of the poem. First, the "whining" of the dogs is heard at the close of
the second stanza followed by the ghosts' inquiry in recitative. Next, the
flight of the ravens is heard in quick scalar passages on the piano followed by
another recitative. The dance then resumes. A brief consolation is reached in
the final two stanzas when the ghosts speak of the torment in their graves
below and then happily bid their "deep, dark chambers" farewell. The key of
A-flat major is briefly touched on before the beginning of the final stanza and
by its close E-flat major is reached. The repetition of the final stanza
remains firmly rooted in the key of E-flat before being jolted back to the
tonic of C minor at its last "Farewell."Joseph DuBose
Classical Music | Baritone
Franz Schubert
Der Geistertanz Play
Recorded on 10/12/2004, uploaded on 01/17/2009
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Perhaps drawn to the eerie scene of Friedrich von Matthisson's poem Der Geistertanz ("Ghost Dance"), Franz Schubert set it to music no less than four times between 1812 and 1816—twice in 1812 and once in 1814 for solo voice and piano and again in 1816 as a part song for unaccompanied male chorus.
The spectral scene of Matthisson's poem begins with the ghosts of those deceased dancing above their graves at the stroke of midnight. Piano and voice begin the song in unison, rising and falling along the tonic triad of C minor. This opening figure, which becomes the principal motif of the song, is made all the more eerie by the inclusion of F-sharp before it peaks on the dominant. The dance-like motion of the song is interrupted twice where Schubert masterfully gives musical utterance to the imagery of the poem. First, the "whining" of the dogs is heard at the close of the second stanza followed by the ghosts' inquiry in recitative. Next, the flight of the ravens is heard in quick scalar passages on the piano followed by another recitative. The dance then resumes. A brief consolation is reached in the final two stanzas when the ghosts speak of the torment in their graves below and then happily bid their "deep, dark chambers" farewell. The key of A-flat major is briefly touched on before the beginning of the final stanza and by its close E-flat major is reached. The repetition of the final stanza remains firmly rooted in the key of E-flat before being jolted back to the tonic of C minor at its last "Farewell." Joseph DuBoseDie bretterne Kammer
Der Toten erbebt
Wenn zwölfmal den Hammer
Die Mitternacht hebt.
Rasch tanzen um Gräber
Und morsches Gebein
Wir luftigen Schweber
Den sausenden Reih'n.
Was winseln die Hunde
Beim schlafeneden Herrn?
Sie wittern die Runde
Der Geister von fern.
Die Raben entflattern
Der wüsten Abtei,
Und flieh'n and den Gattern
Des Kirschofs vorbei
Wir gaukeln un scherzen
Hinab und empor,
Gleich irrenden Kerzen
Im dunstigen Moor.
O herz, dessen Zauber
Zur Marter uns ward,
Du ruhst nun in tauber
Verdumpfung erstarrt;
Tief bargst du im düstern
Gemach unser Weh;
Wir Glücklichen flüstern
Dir frölich: Ade!
--Friedrich von Matthisson (1761-1831)
Ghost Dance
The boarded chamber
of the dead trembles
when midnight raises the hammer
twelve times.
Quickly we airy spirits
strike up a whirling dance
around graves
and rotting bones
Why do the dogs whine
as their masters sleep?
The scent from afar
the spirits' dance.
Ravens flutter up
from the ruined abbey
and fly past
the graveyard gates
Jesting, we flit
up and down,
like will o' the wisps
over the misty moor.
O heart, whose spell
was our torment,
you rest now,
frozen in a numb stupor.
You have buried our grief
deep in the gloomy chamber;
happy we, who whisper you
a cheerful farewell!
--Friedrich von Matthisson
More music by Franz Schubert
Der Wanderer an den Mond
Tränenregen, from Die schöne Müllerin
Moment musicaux, D. 780 No. 4
Erlkönig
Piano Sonata D. 958, Finale: Allegro
Sonata in B-flat Major, Op. 30, D617
Impromptu Op. 90 No. 2 in E-flat Major, D. 899
Notturno
Standchen, Lieder for Flute and Piano
Impromptu No. 2 in E-flat, Op. Posth. D.946
Performances by same musician(s)
Der Wanderer an den Mond
Fischerweise
Das Fischermädchen
Der Einsame
Am Flusse
An die Laute
Das Lied im Grünen
Der Liebliche Stern
Fischerlied
Lied des gefangenen Jägers
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