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Writer's pictureLeah Froyd

On the Same Page Preview II

We are overjoyed to present to you our next concert series, On the Same Page, with concerts beginning on November 24th. Before we begin our concerts, join us for some extra insight into our program!




Julius Schmid Schubertiade 1897

Schubert & Schubertiades

Our guided listening portion of our program will focus on the text Erlkönig. One of the composers we've chosen to showcase this work is Franz Schubert, a master of art song. Schubert and Art Song have a long history of being performed in salons like the ones we perform in today. Known as "Schubertiades", these informal concerts were held in the private residences of patrons. In addition to music, they also hosted poetry readings, dancing, and other pastimes.


Moritz von Schwind ⎹ Ein Schuebrtabend bei Ritter von Spaun

People featured in the sketch: Johann Michael Vogl (Baritone) and Schubert in center

Painters: August Rieder and Leopold Kepuelwieser (standing)

Poets: Grillparzer, Bruchmann, Senn, Mayrhofer, and Bauernfeld (standing)

In the Portrait above: Caroline Esterhàzy (family patrons of the arts)

 

Schubert (1797-1828) had a very interesting life filled with a series of tragic ironies. While he his family were not professional musicians, they were very musical and had enough children to play string quartets at home (Schubert played viola). In 1808, he earned a scholarship in the imperial court chapel choir of Stadtkonvikt in Vienna, where he eventually took lessons from Antonio Salieri whose name you might recognize from the film Amadeus. Even though the feud between Salieri and W.A. Mozart was entirely fictional, Salieri's fame was not. By the time Schubert took lessons from Salieri, Salieri was at the height of his fame.

 

Despite encouragement from his colleagues, it took a long time for Schubert to gain enough confidence to have his music performed to a public audience. He would leave many of his works as unfinished sketches. Caught in his own self torment, he spent a period of time--let's be honest--couch surfing between his friends and relatives while he composed and applied for various musical posts.



The first public performance of his work was March 1st, 1818 of his Italian Overture in C major and the following summer he won the post of music master for the Esterházy family. After his success, he returned to Vienna a new man. His new compositions at this time included famous works including the Rosamunde Overture (video of "Rosamunde" quartet above), Quartettsatz, and a vocal octet, Gesang der Geister über den Wassern which gained the attention of many new friends and patrons thus giving way to an abundance of Schubertiades.

 

At the end of 1822 Schubert contracted a venereal disease, most likely syphilis but continued to compose in spite of it. During his final chapter of life he composed some of the most renowned chamber music in western music history-- the Octet in F major, String Quintet in C major, Fantasy in F Minor for piano duet, Schwanengesang, and his Death and the Maiden  quartet which we performed last fall!

 

Schubert performed in public for the first and last time March 1828 which gave him the funds to finally purchase his own piano. He tragically passed away after catching typhoid fever a few months later in October.

 

Schubert's life was remarkably impactful despite how short it was. His influence over the salon culture paved the way for the generation of composers who followed him including Chopin, Liszt, and Mendelssohn. In addition, the strength of his chamber music is uncompromising with many of his works being regularly performed throughout each performance season.


For Further Listening...


Listen to this art song by Felix Mendelssohn which was most likely originally performed in a salon setting similar to a Schubertiade. The lieder (lyrics) describe a scene of a woman walking in a garden collecting flowers for a man she admires.

 

The quick yet delicate movement of the piano gives an impression of energy and springtime while the simple melody of the singer implies innocence and youth.


Sie wandelt im Blumengarten

Und mustert den bunten Flor,

Und alle die Kleinen warten

Und schauen zu ihr empor.

 

»Und seid ihr denn Frühlingsboten,

Verkündend was stets so neu,

So werdet auch meine Boten

An ihn, der mich liebt so treu.«

 

So überschaut sie die Habe

Und ordnet den lieblichen Strauß,

Und reicht dem Freunde die Gabe,

Und weicht seinem Blicke aus.

 

Was Blumen und Farben meinen,

 O deutet, o fragt das nicht,

Wenn aus den Augen der Einen

Der süßeste Frühling spricht.

 

--Karl Klingemann (1798 - 1862)

She strolls in the flower-garden

and admires the colourful blossom,

and all the little blooms are there waiting and looking upwards towards her.

 

“So you are spring’s messengers,

announcing what is always so new –

then be also my messengers

to the man who loves me faithfully.”

 

So she surveys what she has available

and arranges a delightful garland;

and she gives this gift to her man friend,

and evades his gaze.

 

What flowers and colours mean,

oh do not explain, do not ask –

not when out of one woman’s eyes

the sweetest springtime is speaking.

 

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Peter Low


 

Volunteers Needed

We are currently seeking volunteers to help out with our upcoming concerts. We could use your help with:

  • Set up

  • Check in

  • Photography

  • Clean up

 

If any of these duties interest you, please let. us know using the sign up genius form below.



 


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