Classical Music | Music for Flute

Recorded on 11/28/2006, uploaded on 01/25/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Introduction and Variations on a theme from Müllerlieder op. 25, Op. 160           Franz Schubert

Franz Schubert completed his song cycle, Die schöne Müllerin (The Lovely Mill-Maid) in November 1823.  It contained 20 songs set to poetry following a young hero's unrequited love of the maid of the mill.  The 18^th song in the cycle, "Trockne Blumen" (Dry Flowers) is an ode to a withered bouquet of flowers as the broken-hearted story-teller foresees the time when the maid will realize that his love for her is true and Spring will come again, bringing fresh blooms.

In January 1824, Schubert used the theme from "Trockne Blumen" for his opus 160 (number 802 in the Deutsch catalogue), an Introduction and Variations for Flute and Piano in e minor, the same key as the source song.  The resulting chamber work, however, bears scant reference to the somber tone of the song, as the high spirits of the virtuosic setting take hold of the music.  The piece opens with an Introduction marked Andante, after which the theme is presented.  Seven variations follow.      Jeannine Dennis

Courtesy of International Music Foundation.