FIVE DUETS FOR
SOPRANO AND ALTO, OP. 66
Recording: Edith Mathis, soprano; Brigitte Fassbaender, alto;
Karl Engel, piano [DG 449 641-2]
Published 1875.
This
set of duets can be seen as a companion group to the four of Op. 61, published a year earlier, also
for soprano and alto. None of them are dialogue songs
except for No. 4, which is the only dialogue duet between Op. 28 and Op.
75. The set as a whole is characterized by concision
and direct expression. The drama of dialogue is supplanted
by a refined use of the duet texture to illustrate aspects of
the text. The two settings of Klaus Groth called Klänge are both very
atmospheric. No. 1 contains an impressively extended canon
by inversion. No. 2 makes symbolic reference to the folk
song melody quoted by Brahms in his second piano sonata in
F-sharp minor, Op. 2. No. 3
contains another example of Brahms’s trademark musical
illustrations of waves. It is his only setting of Hermann
Hölty (his uncle Ludwig Hölty was one of Brahms’s favorite
poets). The huntsman’s song of No. 4 would perhaps have
been more at home in Op. 28, but the
alto taking the “male” role lends the duet an appropriate sense
of distance. The characters never sing together and are
differentiated by mode and meter. No. 5 is a strophic
setting of a very old folk text. This text is notable for
having been translated into a poetic English version by Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow. Despite its highly repetitive
nature, the duet is absolutely delightful when sung in an
appropriately “secretive” and “roguish” manner.
Note: Links to English translations of the
texts are from Emily Ezust’s site at http://www.lieder.net.
For the most part, the translations are line-by-line, except
where the difference between German and English syntax requires
slight alterations to the contents of certain lines. The
German texts (included here) are also visible in the translation
links.
IMSLP
WORK PAGE
ONLINE
SCORE
FROM IMSLP (First Edition from Brahms-Institut
Lübeck. In No. 5, the second and third verses use the same
notation with repeat signs, as do the fourth and fifth verses,
unlike the Breitkopf & Härtel complete edition; see below.)
ONLINE
SCORE FROM IMSLP (From Breitkopf & Härtel Sämtliche
Werke. In this edition, all verses of No. 5 are
notated individually without repeat signs. In this guide,
the measure numbers reflect new numbering for all five verses.)
1. Klänge I (Sounds, No. 1). Text by
Klaus Groth. Andante. Varied strophic form. G
MINOR, 2/4 time.
German Text:
Aus der Erde quellen Blumen,
Aus der Sonne quillt das Licht,
Aus dem Herzen quillt die Liebe,
Und der Schmerz, der es zerbricht.
Und die Blumen müssen welken,
Und dem Lichte folgt die Nacht,
Und der Liebe folgt das Sehnen,
Das das Herz so düster macht.
English
Translation
0:00 [m. 1]--Introduction.
It
is a quiet bell-like syncopated dotted (long-short) rhythm, where
the short note is held and joined to the next long note. It
begins with an upbeat, and the first five rhythm groups are all on
the same note. Harmonies that steadily move down punctuate
the beats where the short notes are tied to the long ones.
There is another bar of four groupings where the pitch moves
gently up and back down, trailing to three isolated, detached
chords ending on the preparatory “dominant” harmony.
0:11 [m. 5]--Stanza
(strophe) 1, lines 1-2. After a pause, the voices enter on a
dotted upbeat similar to that of the introduction. They move
together largely in thirds or sixths. The alto moves
downward on the first syllable of “Blumen.” The second line
begins with another dotted upbeat. On “das Licht,” the
soprano makes a dramatic octave leap, and the alto trails downward
on “Licht” in another dotted rhythm. The accompaniment for
these lines consists of simple bass notes and chord groups
beginning after the downbeat.
0:20 [m. 9]--Stanza 1,
lines 3-4. These lines are sung more strongly, with the
soprano beginning in her high register. The accompaniment is
more flowing, but the right hand still begins its groups off the
downbeat in line 3. The soprano holds and decorates “Liebe”
while the alto sings longer notes in slow
syncopation. There is a smaller decoration and
light syncopation on the following “und der.” The word
“Schmerz” is given emphasis through another hold and decoration,
this time clashing with the piano harmony, which now includes bass
octaves. The word “es” in the next bar is treated
similarly. The verse ends on a half-cadence.
0:37 [m.15]--Reprise of
introduction. The piano had trailed the preceding
half-cadence by anticipating the introduction with three
syncopated dotted groups leaping to the first notes of the
introduction from an octave below, with the left hand playing the
same pitch in three different octaves. After this lead-in,
the introduction is reprised as at the beginning.
0:46 [m. 19]--Stanza
(strophe) 2, lines 1-2. The soprano sings the same line she
did in stanza 1, but the alto’s line is completely
different. It is a strict canon, or imitation, of the
soprano line, a beat behind it, a fifth below it, and exactly
inverted, turned upside down. The canon continues all the
way through the verse without breaking. The canon is an
excellent illustration of the “following,” or consequences
described in the text of this stanza. The piano
accompaniment is flowing and continuous, with alternations between
upper harmonies and lower notes in the right hand, only beginning
off the downbeat in the first two bars.
0:56 [m. 23]--Stanza 2,
lines 3-4. The soprano begins as the alto sings the last
note of line 2. Her line 3 is the same as in stanza 1, with
the hold and decoration on “Sehnen,” which the alto follows and
inverts. The bass octaves already begin here in the third
line. The fourth line is changed and extended. The
decoration on “das” is similar to the previous one on “und,” but
the decoration on “Herz” is different from the previous one on
“Schmerz,” and makes an octave leap. There is another large
leap on “macht.”
1:11 [m. 28]--The soprano
begins a repetition of the last line on a syncopation as the alto
is still completing her first statement. It is far more
subdued and narrow in range than the first statement of the line,
which had wide leaps. The accompaniment is thinner and more
detached. The alto takes up the repetition when it reaches
that point. The cadence is full and makes a very sweet turn
to major. It is not completed until the alto reaches the
keynote G, overlapping with the return of the introduction music.
1:22 [m. 31]--The
introduction returns as a postlude. The right hand dotted
syncopations are given first in octaves, then with harmonies when
they move away from the repeated note (which is the keynote G--in
both previous appearances it was the “dominant” note D). The
left hand plays full middle-range chords on the straight
beats. The last chords arrive on the same harmonies as
before, but are fuller, especially in the left hand. The
“dominant” chord must now resolve to a final chord, and it is G
major, not minor, in keeping with the previous vocal cadence (the
rest of the postlude had turned back to minor).
1:37--END OF DUET [34 mm.]
2. Klänge II (Sounds, No. 2). Text by
Klaus Groth. Andante. Varied strophic form. B
MINOR, 2/4 time.
German Text:
Wenn ein müder Leib begraben,
Klingen Glocken ihn zur Ruh’,
Und die Erde schließt die Wunde
Mit den schönsten Blumen zu!
Wenn die Liebe wird begraben,
Singen Lieder sie zur Ruh’,
Und die Wunde bringt die Blumen,
Doch das Grab erst schließt sie zu!
English
Translation
0:00 [m. 1]--Introduction.
Bass
octaves present the main motive, which is a quotation from an old
medieval song (or Minnelied)
that Brahms used in the slow movement of his second piano sonata,
Op. 2. Three rising notes are followed by a highly dissonant
downward leap (a “tritone”). It is even in the same key as
in Op. 2. The right hand enters off the beat to extend it to
a preparatory “dominant” harmony.
0:13 [m. 4]--Stanza 1,
lines 1-2. After a pause, the voices begin unaccompanied, in
straight harmony, with the Minnelied
motive. They continue to spin out the melody after the piano
enters in the second bar. It plays rolled chords after the
beats, and Brahms subtly has the bass notes of these chords
imitate the first two bars of the melody! Because the piano
chords move so much more slowly, this can be difficult to
hear. The alto’s harmony is quite active, with internal
scale motion on “begraben” and in the second line.
0:29 [m. 10]--Stanza 1,
line 3. The voices again begin unaccompanied, but now the
motive has been transformed to major. The piano bass now
plays on the downbeats, with higher rolled chord responses.
The bass only imitates the first four notes of the melody here,
under the third line.
0:37 [m. 13]--Stanza 1,
line 4. The fourth line introduces a faster arching line in
the soprano, with the alto singing simultaneously in the opposite
direction, but entering on the downbeat after the soprano’s
syncopated beginning. Under this, the piano becomes more
fluent, with rippling arpeggios in groups of six against the
voices’ groups of four. The voices strongly move to the
“dominant” key of F-sharp. When they finish, the piano right
hand takes plays the “arching line” in thirds. The line of
text is repeated with the alto taking the “arching line” in its
original form an octave lower, and the word “Blumen” lengthened.
0:51 [m. 17]--A piano
interlude begins with the vocal cadence. It presents the Minnelied motive in notes
half as long. The arpeggios in groups of six continue in the
left hand. The faster motive is given twice, the second time
an octave lower in an inner voice. The chord of B minor (the
home key harmony, but the “subdominant” of F-sharp, where the
music is, and typically a major chord in that context), asserts
itself, creating a major-minor mixture. A long chord with
bass syncopation leads into the verse.
1:01 [m. 20]--Stanza 2,
line 1. The voices begin the melody a step higher than in
stanza 1. They now have a syncopated bass note under
them. The right hand enters with a downward winding arpeggio
on a dissonant “diminished seventh” chord as the voices hold
“begraben” before the soprano makes a poignant plunge on the
now-familiar “tritone.” The piano arpeggio sinks quite low
before briefly turning upward against the soprano’s tritone
descent.
1:10 [m. 23]--Stanza 2,
line 2. The soprano, over bare piano octaves, slides
magically upward to the remote key of C major (the “Neapolitan”
harmony). The soprano sings the faster “arching line” on
“Lieder” as the alto enters, singing more slowly. The
soprano repeats “zur Ruh,” slowing down the “arching line.”
The alto repeats no text, and the voices arrive on “Ruh”
together. The piano plays very quietly repeated chords under
this line on C major and its “dominant.” Under the joint
arrival on “Ruh,” the harmony sharply moves through a “diminished
seventh” to the “dominant” chord of the home key.
1:30 [m. 29]--Stanza 2,
line 3. The voices begin unaccompanied, on the same line
used for stanza 1, line 1, in minor, with the piano entering on
rolled chords and the bass imitating the entire melody of this
line. This imitation is carried through the fourth line,
where new music is heard above it. This new music already
begins on the second syllable of “Blumen.”
1:38 [m. 32]--Stanza 2,
line 4. The alto unexpectedly turns the Minnelied motive upside
down. The piano plays a flowing line with the same contour
in an inner voice with clashing dissonance. Meanwhile, the
piano bass continues to imitate the main melody used in line
3. The soprano enters, imitating the inverted motive, and
there is a rapid rise in volume. The piano winds strongly
upward. The alto sings the faster “arching line,” also
inverted. On “schließt sie zu,” the alto having already sung
“schließt sie” on the “arching line” and repeating it, the voices
reach a climax, the alto resolving downward before the
soprano. Arpeggios in six-note groups begin in the piano
left hand, starting with the last note of the bass imitation.
1:48 [m. 35]--The piano
postlude begins with the vocal cadence, and resembles the
interlude at 0:51 [m. 17], but in the home key. It attempts
to turn to the major key, but the “subdominant” chord (E minor)
persists in holding onto the minor. The two statements of
the fast motive, the second again an octave lower than the first,
lead to two closing bars where the major key is asserted in
leaping dotted rhythms, then a final middle-range chord. The
postlude rapidly diminishes in volume from the climax to this last
chord.
2:07--END OF DUET [38 mm.]
3. Am Strande (Along the Shore). Text
by Hermann Hölty. Ruhig (Quietly). Ternary form.
E-FLAT MAJOR, 4/4 time with one 3/2 bar.
(The similar title Vom Strande is used for the song Op. 69, No. 6.)
German Text:
Es sprechen und blicken die Wellen
Mit sanfter Stimme,
Mit freundlichem Blick,
Und wiegen die träumende Seele
In ferne Tage zurück.
Aus fernen, verklungenen Tagen
Spricht’s heimlich
Mit sanften Stimmen zu mir.
Schaut’s heimlich
Mit freundlichen Blicken
Zum Wandrer am Strande hier.
Mir ist, als hätten die Stimmen
Die je die Seele
Mir sanft bewegt
Und alle die freundlichen Blicke
Sich in die Wellen gelegt.
English
Translation
0:00 [m. 1]--The
introduction establishes the two-against-three rhythmic contrast
that will pervade the entire duet. It begins in the “wrong”
key, B-flat, but this key is shown to be a preparatory “dominant,”
as the introduction arrives in E-flat. The opening downward
gestures in the right hand, which are then expanded, are played
against ascending arpeggios in the left hand that are given in a
clashing triplet rhythm.
0:10 [m. 4]--Stanza 1
(lines 1-5, A). The
first three lines are given in a single straightforward
phrase. The two voices enter on an upbeat and sing in
pleasing harmonies, moving entirely together. The piano now
plays entirely in triplets that clash with the straight rhythm of
the voices, with groups passed between the hands. The rolled
groups in the left hand and the turning motion in the right
graphically depict the waves described in the text.
0:21 [m. 8]--The fourth
and fifth lines, set as one phrase, make hints at C minor and
B-flat major, but these are fleeting. The voices begin to
diverge slightly, as the fifth line is introduced by an upbeat in
the soprano, but not the alto. The word “ferne” soars high
in the soprano. As the phrase concludes, the piano right
hand briefly moves to straight rhythm, bridging to a repetition of
the fifth line that is given its own phrase. The alto
becomes quite active and chromatic in this repetition, which
includes a reiteration of “ferne Tage” where the soprano leaps in
a syncopation. The piano bass moves to low octaves under
right hand triplets, approaching an expanded cadence where the
left hand takes over the triplets from the right.
0:45 [m. 16]--Stanza 2
(lines 6-11, B).
The piano bass makes a sudden turn to the home minor key (E-flat
minor). There, the voices begin to sing in canon, the
soprano imitating the alto a fifth higher and two beats
later. The piano now plays ascending arpeggios in triplets
with breaks between them, along with solid bass notes. In
line 8 (the third of the section), under “sanften Stimmen,” the
key shifts up a half-step to E major, notated as F-flat
major. Here, the alto leads the soprano on a gently arching
line, then repeats it itself.
0:57 [m. 20]--At the
cadence in E (F-flat) major, the canon breaks as the soprano does
not repeat the arching line. For lines 9-11, the soprano
leads the canon, the alto imitating a fifth lower and two beats
later. The piano right hand joins somewhat in the texture of
the canon, changing to straight rhythm and “entering” (but not in
exact imitation) between the two voices The left hand has
triplet arpeggios with shorter breaks between them. As the
soprano reaches the word “Wandrer,” both voices suddenly cut
off. The music has now moved to C-flat major. The
piano takes an arching line just heard from the soprano and alto.
1:04 [m. 23]--The voices
join on “zum Wandrer” (which the alto has not yet sung).
They wrench the music to B-flat (the “dominant” where the duet
began). The piano right hand mixes straight and triplet
rhythm in its continuing arching lines. The voices then
expand the words “am Strande hier” on longer notes, emphasizing
the poem’s title and providing the only real climax of the
duet. Under these words, the introduction enters as at the
beginning, continuing after the voices end and leading home to
E-flat major.
1:16 [m. 27]--Stanza 3
(lines 12-16, A).
Lines 12-14 are sung as were lines 1-3 at 0:10 [m. 4]. There
is one minor change in declamation on the word “als,” which joins
as a single note two repeated notes used previously for the last
syllable of “sprechen” and “und.” Line 12 is a syllable
longer than line 1. The verse is sung at a somewhat stronger
level than was the first section.
1:27 [m. 31]--The last two
lines are given as were those at 0:21 [m. 8]. The soaring
line on the insignificant word “in” does give emphasis to the
following more important word “Wellen.” As before, the piano
right hand moves to straight rhythm to bridge to the repetition,
where the reiterated words are “in die Wellen.” Before the
reiteration, the alto gives two notes to the second syllable of
“Wellen” where it had only given one note to the second syllable
of “Tage” before.
1:49 [m. 38]--At the
cadence, the introduction music is used as a postlude. It
now begins in the home key, which means it leads to a different
one, A-flat (the “subdominant”). The last bar of the music
is stretched out to a 3/2 measure and settles down, remaining in
A-flat. At the very end, internal half-step motion helps the
A-flat harmony move to a final E-flat chord (in a normal 4/4
bar). This is a variant of a “plagal” cadence, a motion that
is used for a benedictory effect.
2:10--END OF DUET [41 mm.]
4. Jägerlied (Huntsman’s Song). Text
by Karl August Candidus. Lebhaft (Lively). Double
strophic form. C MAJOR/MINOR, 2/4 and 6/8 time.
German Text:
Jäger, was jagst du die Häselein?
Häselein jag’ ich, das muß so sein.
Jäger, was steht dir im Auge dein?
Tränen wohl sind es, das muß so sein.
Jäger, was hast du im Herzelein?
Liebe und Leiden, das muß so sein.
Jäger, wann holst du dein Liebchen heim?
Nimmer, ach nimmer, das muß so sein.
English
Translation
The voices never sing
together in this dialogue duet. The soprano’s questions are
in major and 2/4 meter, the alto’s answers in minor and 6/8
meter. The identity of the hunter’s questioner (sung by the
soprano) is not specified.
0:00 [m. 1]--Question
#1. Two introductory bars establish the pattern of leaping
triplets in the bass against a straight dotted rhythm in the right
hand. The 2/4 meter of the questions is constantly
undermined by the triplets in the bass, which are more
characteristic of the alto’s 6/8 meter. The first question
adopts the dotted rhythm of the right hand and seems innocent or
playful. The soprano repeats “die Häselein,” with its
lilting upward leap. The right hand of the piano rests
before each downbeat.
0:09 [m. 9]--Answer
#1. The alto hunter’s minor-key response has a skittish bass
in two-note groups, cutting off the last notes of triplet
groups. The melody for her first words is imitated by the
piano right hand in octaves, and even the skittish bass follows
the melody somewhat. At “das muß so sein,” the piano right
hand moves to distinct “horn fifth” harmony. The alto always
repeats “das muß so sein” to a stretched out line, here placing
two notes on “muß” and “so.”
0:15 [m. 15]--Question
#2. The vocal line is the same as in the first question, and
the accompaniment is only slightly more active than it was before
under the text repetition (here “im Auge dein”), adding two
descents in thirds. Brahms does mark the question più dolce.
0:22 [m. 21]--Answer
#2. The music is unvaried from the first answer, with the
same declamation.
0:28 [m. 27]--Question
#3. For this question, which Brahms marks sempre più dolce, the
accompaniment is new. The assertive dotted rhythms are
exchanged for flowing, winding arpeggios played in the triplet
rhythm of the bass (the piano part is actually notated in
6/8). The bass itself now has a slower upper voice and low
reiterations of the note G, which was a constant pedal point in
the previous two questions, but not as noticeable. This
leaves the vocal line as the sole element still in 2/4 time.
For the first time, the intensity rapidly increases in the piano
in preparation for the alto’s entrance. The repeated text is
“im Herzelein.”
0:35 [m. 33]--Answer
#3. This is highly varied from the first
presentations. The initial text, “Liebe und Leiden,” is now
given in a strong descent. The piano plays wide arpeggios
with both hands in contrary motion under this descent. The
“horn fifth” harmony under “das muß so sein” is much more active,
incorporating dotted rhythms within the 6/8 meter. The
repetition is lengthened by three bars, first with an extra
repetition of “das muß,” then with a lengthening of what is now
the third statement of “muß” on a higher note, and finally through
a transitional bar for piano that helps the music settle back
down.
0:45 [m. 42]--Question
#4. The accompaniment here is gentler still, with right hand
arpeggios that are more static than those of the third
question. The piano part is still notated in 6/8. The
left hand replaces the steady motion and pedal point on G with a
bass line using longer notes and somewhat poignant descending
half-step motion. The question is still tender, but much
less playful or innocent. In fact, the soprano even replaces
her lilting upward leap on the repeated text (here “dein Liebchen
heim”) with a downward leap. Rather than increasing in
intensity, the piano actually becomes quieter before the alto’s
last outburst.
0:53 [m. 48]--The initial
text, “nimmer, ach nimmer,” is presented in a similar manner to
that in the third answer, with a violent outburst. It is at
a higher pitch level, though, moving briefly to G minor. The
repeated “das muß so sein” moves back to its original pitch, but
the accompaniment is even more complex. The dotted rhythms
are used as in the third answer, but they are now arranged in
groupings suggesting 3/4 bars conflicting with the 6/8
meter. The left hand is also given more activity, joining
the “horn fifth” harmony and playing continuously under the bars
with implied 3/4 motion. The repetition is lengthened in the
same manner as in the third question, now adding one more bar by
stretching out the last descent.
1:03 [m. 57]--The
transitional bar used to help settle the music down after the
third question is extended to three bars. The first two bars
are “gasping” echoes followed by rests, and finally a stark,
quiet, and bare C played in three low octaves closes the duet,
which began so innocently, in a very dark manner.
1:09--END OF DUET [59 mm.]
5. Hut du dich! (Take care! Beware!).
Folksong
text from Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Lebhaft, heimlich und
schalkhaft (Lively, secretively and roguishly). Strophic
form. B-FLAT MAJOR, 2/4 time.
German Text:
Ich weiß ein Mäd’lein hübsch und fein,
hüt du dich!
Es kann wohl falsch und freundlich sein,
hüt du dich!
Vertrau ihr nicht, sie narret dich!
Sie hat zwei Äuglein, die sind braun,
hüt du dich!
Sie werden dich verliebt anschaun,
hüt du dich!
Vertrau ihr nicht, sie narret dich!
Sie hat ein licht goldfarb’nes Haar,
hüt du dich!
Und was sie red’t, das ist nicht wahr,
hüt du dich!
Vertrau ihr nicht, sie narret dich!
Sie hat zwei Brüstlein, die sind weiß,
hüt du dich!
Sie legt’s hervor mit allem Fleiß,
hüt du dich!
Vetrau ihr nicht, sie narret dich!
Sie gibt dir’n Kränzlein fein gemacht,
hüt du dich!
Für einen Narr’n wirst du geacht,
hüt du dich!
Vetrau ihr nicht, sie narret dich!
English
Translation (Poetic translation by Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow)
0:00 [m. 1]--The
introduction, which occurs before each stanza, somewhat obscures
the meter with its short-long opening and its triplet
rhythm. The initial descent includes two of the short-long
openings in the left hand preceding a right hand entry. A
sense of pulse is restored with the rising leaps leading into the
verse.
0:06 [m. 5]--Stanza
1. The first line continues the leaps from the piano
introduction in the soprano part before turning around. The
alto provides synchronous harmony throughout except for an
internal motion on “fein.” Brahms marks the vocal entry “mezza voce” to emphasize the
secretive mood. The words “hüt du dich” are stated twice in
all their appearances. The first one, making up the second
phrase, reverses the initial vocal leap of the first line,
jumping down a fourth. Under the repeated words, the opening
leaps of line 1 are heard in the piano on the “dominant” key
(F). The accompaniment is quite simple otherwise.
0:13 [m. 13]--The first
line is repeated to the same music. The third line (fourth
phrase) is then given in two similar ascents. The soprano
stretches the second ascent on “freundlich” while the alto sings
longer notes. Only in this line does the intensity somewhat
increase. The right hand chords become more prominent.
The fourth line (fifth phrase) is another repeated “hüt du
dich.” Here, the downward leaps come between “hüt” and “du”
rather than between “du” and “dich.” The second statement is
a third lower and extended a bar. The piano anticipates the
first downward leap after line 3 and also plays it between the two
statements.
0:27 [m. 27]--The alto
begins the last line a half-beat before the soprano. This
moralizing warning/refrain begins like the first line and its
reiteration as the third phrase. The soprano diverges with
another upward leap on “narret,” her highest pitch in the
verse. Both voices reach a cadence. Brahms directs
that this line should become both slightly quieter and slightly
slower.
0:32 [m. 31]--Second
statement of the introduction.
0:36 [m. 35]--Stanza
2. The vocal lines are the same in all stanzas.
Beginning with this stanza, the piano plays a more elaborate
accompaniment, utilizing triplet rhythm everywhere except the
right hand in the two “dominant key” echoes of the opening line
under the first “hüt du dich” repetitions (line/phrase 2).
The triplets are usually heard in one hand while the other plays
chords, and the groups usually begin off the beat after such a
chord. In the right hand, there are several lightly arching
arpeggios. The triplets of the piano create rhythmic
conflict with the voices, who remain in straight rhythm. The
alto’s internal motion is on the word “braun.”
0:44 [m. 43]--Repetition
of line 1 and then lines 3-4 (phrases 3-5). The second
ascent in line 3 stretches out the last syllable of
“verliebt.” The accompaniment with triplets continues.
The piano’s anticipation of the “hüt du dich” leaps is an octave
higher than in stanza 1.
0:58 [m. 57]--Final
line/refrain, which has the same text in all stanzas, now with the
triplet accompaniment. In this and remaining stanzas, the
downward “hüt du dich” leaps continue to be heard in the piano
against the vocal refrain. This was not the case in stanza 1
with its simpler accompaniment.
1:04 [m. 61]--Third
statement of the introduction.
1:07 [m. 65]--Stanza
3. The triplet accompaniment is used for all the remaining
stanzas. The alto’s internal motion is on the word “Haar.”
1:15 [m. 73]--Phrases
3-5. The second ascent in line 3 stretches out the word
“ist.”
1:29 [m. 87]--Final
line/refrain.
1:35 [m. 91]--Fourth
statement of the introduction.
1:38 [m. 95]--Stanza
4. The alto’s internal motion is on the word “weiß.”
The Peters edition cuts this verse, although it appears in the
first edition and in the complete works. This is possibly a
case of censorship because of the reference to “zwei Brüstlein,
die sind weiß” (“two little white breasts”) that the female
subject of the poem likes to show off. This was only
somewhat softened (to a single “bosom”) by Longfellow in his
poetic translation.
1:46 [m. 103]--Phrases
3-5. The second ascent in line 3 stretches out the word
“allem.”
2:00 [m. 117]--Final
line/refrain.
2:05 [m. 121]--Fifth
statement of the introduction.
2:09 [m. 125]--Stanza
5. The alto’s internal motion is on the second syllable of
the word “gemacht.”
2:17 [m. 133]--Phrases
3-5. Note the singers’ emphasis on “Narr’n” (“fool”) in the
first line 3 ascent. This key word has reference to “narret
dich” (“fools you”) in the refrain and clinches the song’s
message. The second ascent in line 3 stretches out the word
“du.”
2:31 [m. 147]--Final
line/refrain.
2:37 [m. 151]--The
introduction is stated a sixth time as a postlude. This time
a final cadence is added with a teasing rest before the very quiet
last chord.
2:48--END OF DUET [155 mm.]
END OF SET
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