Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt ("Only one who knows
longing") is one of three poems, set to music by Schubert, from Goethe's novel Wilhelm
Meisters Lehrjahre ("Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship"). Already set multiple
times by Beethoven and later by Schumann, Wolf and Tchaikovsky, Schubert
himself composed six different versions of Goethe's poem. Two versions—a duet
and a solo song—were composed in January 1826 and published as part of his 4
Gesänge aus 'Wilhelm Meister', op. 62 the following year.
No doubt, judging from its multiple settings by a few of the
greatest representatives of classical music, Goethe's poem is overflowing with
emotion and drama, begging to be expressed in tone. Schubert takes every
opportunity to express the longing (Sehnsucht) of Goethe's words. The
song opens with the piano sounding a varied form of what will be the vocal
melody. Emotional tension is immediately felt, first, in the elision of the
leading note from the opening measure emphasizing the somber tone; second, by a
poignant D-sharp appoggiatura to the A minor harmony of the second measure;
and, finally, the chromatic C-sharp and B-flat in the following measure—and all
this just within three bars of music!
The first two lines of Goethe's text are treated as a
single unit. These same lines, as well as the accompanying music, will be
recapitulated later at the end of the song. The final four lines of the first
stanza wander from the starting tonality of A minor into the remote key of C
minor. However, in a brilliant stroke, Schubert returns to the tonic by means
of a single chord to close the first stanza on a half cadence in A minor. The
opening lines of the second stanza begin over a disturbing chord of the second
on the subdominant. At the words "I feel dizzy," the music breaks off into a
series of repeated chromatic harmonies hovering inconclusively between the keys
of D minor, C minor and A minor. After finally settling on the dominant harmony
of A minor, the opening lines and music are repeated. The piano introduction
also returns, bringing an end to one of Schubert's most heartfelt Lieder.Joseph DuBose
Classical Music | Soprano
Franz Schubert
Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt, from Mignon Lieder, D. 877 Play
Recorded on 10/06/2010, uploaded on 02/28/2011
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt ("Only one who knows longing") is one of three poems, set to music by Schubert, from Goethe's novel Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre ("Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship"). Already set multiple times by Beethoven and later by Schumann, Wolf and Tchaikovsky, Schubert himself composed six different versions of Goethe's poem. Two versions—a duet and a solo song—were composed in January 1826 and published as part of his 4 Gesänge aus 'Wilhelm Meister', op. 62 the following year.
No doubt, judging from its multiple settings by a few of the greatest representatives of classical music, Goethe's poem is overflowing with emotion and drama, begging to be expressed in tone. Schubert takes every opportunity to express the longing (Sehnsucht) of Goethe's words. The song opens with the piano sounding a varied form of what will be the vocal melody. Emotional tension is immediately felt, first, in the elision of the leading note from the opening measure emphasizing the somber tone; second, by a poignant D-sharp appoggiatura to the A minor harmony of the second measure; and, finally, the chromatic C-sharp and B-flat in the following measure—and all this just within three bars of music!
The first two lines of Goethe's text are treated as a single unit. These same lines, as well as the accompanying music, will be recapitulated later at the end of the song. The final four lines of the first stanza wander from the starting tonality of A minor into the remote key of C minor. However, in a brilliant stroke, Schubert returns to the tonic by means of a single chord to close the first stanza on a half cadence in A minor. The opening lines of the second stanza begin over a disturbing chord of the second on the subdominant. At the words "I feel dizzy," the music breaks off into a series of repeated chromatic harmonies hovering inconclusively between the keys of D minor, C minor and A minor. After finally settling on the dominant harmony of A minor, the opening lines and music are repeated. The piano introduction also returns, bringing an end to one of Schubert's most heartfelt Lieder. Joseph DuBoseMore 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)
Heiss mich nicht reden no. 2, from Mignon Lieder, D. 877
Nature, the Gentlest Mother, from Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson
Heart, We Will Forget Him, from Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson
Going to Heaven!, from Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson
Why Do They Shut Me Out of Heaven? from Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson
Le colibri
Les papillons
So lasst mich scheinen, from Mignon Lieder, D. 877
Apparition, from Quatre chansons de jeunesse
Nuit d'étoiles
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