Franz Schubert composed Schwanengesang (“Swan Track”), D. 957, a cycle of 14 posthumously printed songs, in October of 1828, a month earlier than his demise.
The haunting second music, Kriegers Ahnung (“Warriors Foreboding”), foreshadows Mahler’s Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen from Des Knaben Wunderhorn. The textual content by Ludwig Rellstab is the ghostly soliloquy of a soldier who fears imminent demise on the battlefield, and who longs to return to his beloved.
The piano’s desolate introduction intones a solemn funeral drumbeat. A stressed and melancholy dreamscape unfolds, accompanied by an adventurous harmonic stream which flirts solely briefly with main. Ultimately, it’s the quietly ominous, incessant drumbeat which stays.
This 2019 recording options baritone Gerald Finley, accompanied by Julius Drake:
English translation by Richard Wigmore:
In deep repose my comrades in arms
lie in a circle round me;
my coronary heart is so anxious and heavy,
so ardent with longing.How usually I’ve dreamt sweetly
upon her heat breast!
How cheerful the fireplace glow appeared
when she lay in my arms.Right here, the place the sombre glimmer of the flames,
alas, performs solely on weapons,
right here the guts feels completely alone;
a tear of disappointment wells up.Coronary heart, might consolation not forsake you;
many a battle nonetheless calls.
Quickly I shall relaxation effectively and sleep deeply.
Beloved, goodnight!
Recordings
- Schubert: Schwanengesang, D. 957: Kriegers Ahnung, Gerald Finley, Julius Drake Hyperion Records
Featured Picture: “First quantity of Schubert’s Schwanengesang as initially printed in 1829″
