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The Schubert Song Transcriptions for Solo Piano/Series II
The Complete Winterreise and Seven Other Great Songs
By Franz Liszt Dover Publications, Inc.
Copyright © 1996 Dover Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-486-17369-6
CHAPTER 1
12
WINTERREISE Transcriptions
The works in this section are Franz Liszt's piano transcriptions of 12 of Schubert's 24 settings of Wilhelm Müller's Winterreise ["Winter's Journey"], a cycle of poems first published in 1823. Although a complete Liszt Winterreise of 24 works had been announced, the remaining transcriptions never materialized.
Schubert's song cycle was composed in 1827, and published in 1828 in two parts (Books I and II) of 12 songs each.
Departing from Schubert's original sequence of songs, Liszt positioned the Winterreise transcriptions according to his own structural plan, its harmonic basis reflecting Liszt's predilection for key relationships built on
a. key centers a minor or major third apart (B-flat to G; G to E-flat);
b. key centers built on a dominant-tonic (V-I) relationship (F to B-flat; E to A);
c. keys sharing the same tonic but differing in mode (A minor-A major).
In shaping this 12-part tonal organization, Liszt retained Schubert's original keys with three exceptions: "Die Nebensonnen," originally in A major, transcribed in B-flat major; "Wasserfluth," originally in F-sharp minor, transcribed in E minor; and "Muth," originally in A minor (transposed by Schubert from his manuscript in G minor), transcribed in the original key of G minor.
Liszt's organization of materials—outlined in the list below—also includes the bridging of "Der Leyermann" and "Täuschung" to make a single work, and the combining of "Der stürmische Morgen" and "Im Dorfe" as a single work in A-B-A form.
Gute Nacht
[FAREWELL]
Liszt's transcription: R246/1. The first of 12 Winterreise piano transcriptions. Transcribed 1839, published 1840.
Schubert's song: D911/1. The first of 24 settings, Op. 89, of Müller's Winterreise. Composed February 1827. Published, in Book I, January 1828.
Fremd bin ich eingezogen,
Fremd zieh' ich wieder aus,
der Mai war mir gewogen
mit manchem Blumenstrauß.
Das Mädchen sprach von Liebe,
die Mutter gar von Eh',
nun ist die Welt so trübe,
der Weg gehüllt in Schnee.
Ich kann zu meinen Reisen
nicht wählen mit der Zeit,
muB selbst den Weg mir weisen,
in dieser Dunkelheit.
Es zieht ein Mondenschatten
als mein Gefährte mit,
und auf den weißen Matten
such' ich des Wildes Tritt.
Was soll ich länger weilen,
daß man mich trieb' hinaus?
laß irre Hunde heulen
vor ihres Herren Haus!
Die Liebe liebt das Wandern,
Gott hat sie so gemacht
von Einem zu dem Andern,
fein Liebchen, gute Nacht!
Will dich im Traum nicht stören,
wär' schad' um deine Ruh',
sollst meinen Tritt nicht hören,
sacht, sacht, die Türe zu!
Schreib' im Vorübergehen
an's Tor dir: gute Nacht!
damit du mögest sehen,
an dich hab' ich gedacht.
A stranger when I came here,
a stranger go away,
in May I prospered gaily,
with many a flower of May.
The maiden bade me love her,
the mother bade us wed,
but now the path is gloomy,
with ice and snow ahead.
I cannot plan my journey,
nor can I choose the day,
at night I find the pathway
myself as best I may.
My shadow in the moonlight,
the only friend I claim,
across the snow-white meadow
I look for signs of game.
Why should I longer tarry
'til I be told to roam?
Let stray dogs linger howling
around their master's home!
The lover loves to wander,
and so, my dear, goodbye,
from one to yet another,
you best can tell me why.
That I may not disturb you,
I'll creep across the floor,
nor interrupt your dreaming,
but softly close the door.
I'll write a little message
and pin it to the door,
to say goodbye and tell you
what oft I said before.
Die Nebensonnen
[THE RIVAL SUNS]
Liszt's transcription: R246/2. The second of 12 Winterreise piano transcriptions, transposed to B-flat major from Schubert's original in A major. Transcribed 1839, published 1840.
Schubert's song: D911/23. The next-to-last of 24 settings, Op. 89, of Müller'sWinterreise. Composed October 1827. Published posthumously, in Book II, December 1828.
Drei Sonnen sah ich am Himmel stehn,
hab' lang' und fest sie angesehn.
Und sie auch standen da so stier,
als wollen sie nicht weg von mir.
Ach, meine Sonnen seid ihr nicht,
schaut andern doch in's Angesicht!
Ja, neulich hatt' ich auch wohl drei,
nun sind hinab die besten zwei.
Ging' nur die dritt' erst hinterdrein!
im Dunkeln wird mir wohler sein.
Three suns were shining in heaven high,
none saw them there as clear as I.
So bright and fair they seemed to be,
as if they wished to stay with me.
Ah, two of them may not be mine,
for others they are meant to shine!
Yes, recently I had all three;
the two I loved are gone from me.
I wish the third were gone as well!
I might feel better, who can tell?
Muth
[COURAGE]
Liszt's transcription: R246/3. The third of 12 Winterreise piano transcriptions, transposed to G minor (the key of Schubert's manuscript) from the published song in A minor. Transcribed 1839, published 1840.
Schubert's song: D911/22. The twenty-second of 24 settings, Op. 89, of Müller's Winterreise. Composed October 1827. Published posthumously, in Book II, December 1828, as "Mut," originally in G minor, transposed by Schubert to A minor.
Fliegt der Schnee mir in's Gesicht,
schüttl' ich ihn herunter.
Wenn mein Herz im Busen spricht,
sing' ich hell und munter.
Höre nicht, was es mir sagt,
habe keine Ohren,
fühle nicht, was es mir klagt,
Klagen ist für Thoren.
Lustig in die Welt hinein
gegen Wind und Wetter!
Will kein Gott auf Erden sein,
sind wir selber Götter!
When the snowflakes hit your face,
shake them off you lightly.
When your heart within you breaks,
sing serene and brightly.
Listen not to what it says,
have no ears to hear it;
feel it not when it complains,
they are fools who fear it.
Gaily face the world around,
scorning wind and weather!
If no god is here on earth,
all be gods together!
Die Post
[THE MAIL COACH]
Liszt's transcription: R246/4. The fourth of 12 Winterreise piano transcriptions. Transcribed 1839, published 1840.
Schubert's song: D911/13. The thirteenth of 24 settings, Op. 89, of Müller's Winterreise. Composed October 1827. Published posthumously, as the opening song of Book II, December 1828.
Von der Straße her ein Posthorn klingt.
Was hat es, daß es so hoch aufspringt,
mein Herz?
Die Post bringt keinen Brief für dich.
Was drängst du denn so wunderlich,
mein Herz?
Nun ja, die Post kommt aus der Stadt,
wo ich ein liebes Liebchen hatt',
mein Herz!
Willst wohl einmal hinüber seh'n,
und fragen, wie es dort mag gehn,
mein Herz?
From the street below a post horn sounds.
What can this be that so jumps and bounds,
my heart?
The post brings you no note today,
so why now act in this strange way,
my heart?
You see, the post is from a shrine
where dwells a maid who once was mine,
my heart!
You'd like perhaps to ask her how,
and ask her how she's faring now,
my heart?
Erstarrung
[TORPID]
Liszt's transcription: R246/5. The fifth of 12 Winterreise piano transcriptions. Transcribed 1839, published 1840.
Schubert's song: D911/4. The fourth of 24 settings, Op. 89, of Müller's Winterreise. Composed February 1827. Published, in Book I, January 1828.
Ich such' im Schnee vergebens
nach ihrer Tritte Spur,
wo sie an meinem Arme
durchstrich die grüne Flur.
Ich will den Boden küssen,
durchdringen Eis und Schnee
mit meinen heißen Tränen,
bis ich die Erde seh'.
Wo find' ich eine Blüthe,
wo find' ich grünes Gras?
Die Blumen sind erstorben,
der Rasen sieht so blaß.
Soll denn kein Angedenken
ich nehmen mit von hier?
Wenn meine Schmerzen schweigen,
wer sagt mir dann von ihr?
Mein Herz ist wie erstorben,
kalt starrt ihr Bild darin:
schmilzt je das Herz mir wieder,
fließt auch ihr Bild dahin.
In vain I search the snowdrifts
for traces of her feet
where we had strolled together
through fields so sunny-sweet.
I want to kiss her footprints,
to melt the ice and snow,
with tears of anguish melt it
and so uncover the earth below.
Where are there any blossoms,
where any fresh green grass?
The flowers all are withered,
the lawn so pale, alas!
May I take no remembrance,
old memories to stir?
For when my pain is silent,
who then will speak of her?
Her image staring coldly
has not a word to say,
and when my heart flows over,
it, too, will float away!
Wasserfluth
[FLOOD OF TEARS]
Liszt's transcription: R246/6. The sixth of 12 Winterreise piano transcriptions. Transcribed 1839, published 1840.
Schubert's song: D911/6. The sixth of 24 settings, Op. 89, of Müller's Winterreise. Composed February 1827. Published, in Book I, January 1828, originally in F-sharp minor, transposed by Schubert to E minor.
Manche Trän' aus meinen Augen
ist gefallen in den Schnee;
seine kalten Flocken saugen
durstig ein das heiße Weh.
Wenn die Gräser sprossen wollen,
weht daher ein lauer Wind,
und das Eis zerspringt in Schollen, und der weiche Schnee zerrinnt.
Schnee, du weißt von meinem Sehnen,
sag', wohin doch geht dein Lauf?
Folge nach nur meinen Tränen,
nimmt dich bald das Bächlein auf.
Wirst mit ihm die Stadt durchziehen
munt're Straßen ein und aus;
fühlst du meine Tränen glühen,
da ist meiner Liebsten Haus.
Many a tear has come and fallen
from my eyes upon the snow;
cold and thirsty flakes have drunk them,
sucking in my scalding woe.
When the grass would sprout in springtime,
soft and gentle breezes blow,
ice and snow dissolve and vanish,
all the rivers melt and flow.
Snow, you know my ceaseless longing,
tell me, whither will you go?
Let my tears as guides direct you,
soon you'll find the brook we know.
With it, you will reach the city,
through its streets will gaily roam;
where my tears shall flow the hottest,
there will be my dear one's home.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Schubert Song Transcriptions for Solo Piano/Series II by Franz Liszt. Copyright © 1996 Dover Publications, Inc.. Excerpted by permission of Dover Publications, Inc..
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