SIX SONGS AND ROMANCES (LIEDER UND ROMANZEN) FOR FOUR-VOICE
MIXED CHORUS, OP. 93a
Recording: North German Radio Chorus, conducted by Günter Jena;
Edith Mathis, soloist (No. 2) [DG 449 646-2]
Published
1884
This set is the first group of secular choral songs in
over ten years. While there are some similarities to the Op. 62
group, these songs bear the more tightly argued aesthetic of the late
style. Brahms did not include optional piano parts, and imbued
the a cappella voices with more color and effect than in any previous
secular part songs. The trend would move to its logical
conclusion in the more austere and autumnal Op. 104, the final set of
secular choral songs. Op. 93a retains much of the folk-like character
from the Op. 62 group, and indeed, three of its texts are from “folk”
sources. At the same time, the other three songs, by great
romantic poets, look forward to Op. 104. The title “Songs and
Romances” probably refers to the balance between the folk songs and the
romantic poetry. The first two songs are perhaps the most
remarkable. No. 1 is a setting of a text whose original “folk”
melody he had also arranged for a cappella choir and would arrange
again as a solo song with piano in his great 1894 collection of
folksong arrangements. Here, Brahms uses his own melody, evoking
the spirit of the folk tune, but the wonderful middle section, which
changes meter, has the voices imitate the fiddler’s tuning. No.
2, with its irregular meter, emulates its Serbian source.
Traditional Serbian folksong uses similar irregular meters. The
song’s organic growth and shift from minor to major is perfectly paced,
as is the discrete inclusion of the soprano soloist. The solo
setting of this text in Op. 95, which uses the same music, often
substitutes the piano for the choral parts heard here. No. 3 is a
brief but highly evocative and harmonically rich setting of a romantic
poem. It is especially notable for its beautifully extended final
cadence. No. 4 was distinguished by being played at Brahms’s
funeral. The only simple strophic setting in the set, its use of
the “Fahr wohl” refrain to bridge the strophes creates a wonderful
sense of perpetual continuation. No. 5, another “folk” setting,
is quite elaborate, with great contrasts. The somewhat stern but
excellent canon of No. 6 ends the set in a curious manner. Brahms
seems to treat the great Goethe in a more “academic” manner. The
choral writing in these songs is evocative and brilliant
throughout. The set shares an opus number with the unrelated
six-part chorus called the Tafellied.
Designated Op. 93b, this work, with its piano accompaniment, is closer
in character to the vocal quartets.
Note: Links to English translations of the texts are from Emily Ezust's
site at http://www.recmusic.org/lieder.
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.
ONLINE
SCORE FROM IMSLP (First Edition from Brahms-Institut Lübeck;
unfortunately only individual choral parts [soprano, alto, tenor, bass]
are available, not the complete score)
COMPLETE ONLINE SCORES FROM THE CHORAL PUBLIC DOMAIN LIBRARY (Choral
Wiki):
Complete
No.
1: Der bucklichte Fiedler
No.
2: Das Mädchen
No.
3: O süßer Mai!
No.
4: Fahr wohl!
No.
5: Der Falke
No.
6: Beherzigung
1. Der bucklichte Fiedler (The Hunchbacked Fiddler).
Lower Rhenish folk song from the Kretzschmer-Zuccalmaglio
collection. Lebhaft (Lively). Modified strophic form.
G MAJOR, 4/4 time, with three bars of 5/4 and a section of 3/8.
German Text:
Es wohnet ein Fiedler zu Frankfurt am Main,
der kehret von lustiger Zeche heim;
und er trat auf den Markt, was schaut er dort?
Der schönen Frauen schmausten gar viel' an dem Ort.
"Du bucklichter Fiedler, nun fiedle uns auf,
wir wollen dir zahlen des Lohnes vollauf!
Einen feinen Tanz, behende gegeigt,
Walpurgis Nacht wir heuer gefeir't!"
Der Geiger strich einen fröhlichen Tanz,
die Frauen tanzten den Rosenkranz,
und die erste sprach: "mein lieber Sohn,
du geigtest so frisch, hab' nun deinen Lohn!"
Sie griff ihm behend' unter's Wams sofort,
und nahm ihm den Höcker vom Rücken fort:
"so gehe nun hin, mein schlanker Gesell,
dich nimmt nun jedwede Jungfrau zur Stell'."
English Translation
Throughout the song, notice how Brahms alters the declamation to
accommodate the differing syllabification between corresponding lines
of each stanza.
0:00 [m. 1]--Stanza 1, lines
1-2. The choir lustily begins with
the upward arpeggio that characterizes the opening of each verse.
The melody is the same for each of the two lines. The beginning
of each is in unison (on the upward arpeggio). The choir breaks
into harmony halfway through each line. The last bar of line 2
(m. 4) is extended to a 5/4 measure. This accommodates a breath
pause before the upbeat to the third line and also creates a somewhat
unsteady feeling.
0:09 [m. 5]--Stanza 1, lines
3-4. The third line, which moves
down instead of up, begins in unison, as had the first two, and breaks
into harmony halfway through. This text of the second half, “was
schaut er dort,” is repeated under a slowing and diminishing. The
last line, which is completely in harmony, exuberantly brings the
stanza to a close. The altos and basses, who sing longer notes at
the beginning of the line, omit the word “schmausten.” These two
parts also briefly split at the end for a six-voice texture.
0:23 [m. 10]--Stanza 2, lines
1-2. The melody is as in stanza 1,
but this time the unison openings are abandoned and both lines are in
harmony throughout. Again, the last bar of line 2 (m. 13) is a
5/4 measure.
0:33 [m. 14]--Stanza 2, lines
3-4. The third line is now sung
completely in harmony. The text of the second half (“behende
gegeigt”) is repeated, but without the slowing and diminishing.
The last line suddenly breaks into completely new and striking music,
making a strong detour to B major. Stark fifths mark the
evocation of Walpurgis Night. The line is repeated, moving to D
major at the cadence.
0:51 [m. 22]--Stanza 3, lines
1-2. Back G major, the meter shifts
to the 3/8 of a German Dance (“Kräftig”--“Strong”) . In an
amazing example of word painting, the choir, first the men, then the
women, imitates the open fifths of a fiddler tuning his instrument
under the words “Der Geiger strich.” The men state these words
three times, the women twice. After the “tuning,” a melody spins
itself out in the 3/8 dance meter. It is clearly a variation of
the main melody in the new meter. The word “Rosenkranz” is
expanded in a flowing line over five bars (perhaps analogous to the 5/4
measure that took place at this spot before).
1:06 [m. 37]--Stanza 3, lines
3-4. Return to 4/4 meter. It
begins essentially as had stanza 2 (harmony throughout), with slightly
different part writing in the tenor and bass lines. As in stanza
1, the second half of line 3 (“mein lieber Sohn”) is repeated under a
slowing and diminishing. The last line is as in stanza 1, but the
altos and basses sing the full text, which is two syllables
shorter. As in stanza 1, the two parts split at the end.
The two upbeat notes do not clearly belong to any measure (the previous
3/8 bar, m. 36, is complete), and are not numbered. The first
full measure of line 3 is m. 37.
1:21 [m. 42]--Stanza 4, lines
1-2. The lines are fully
harmonized, as in stanza 2. The part writing is cleverly altered
to include some new dotted (long-short) rhythms on certain words in the
lower three parts. Again, the last bar of line 2 (m. 45) is a 5/4
measure.
1:30 [m. 46]--Stanza 4, lines
3-4. The third line is harmonized
as in stanza 3, opening with one more dotted rhythm in the altos and
basses. In the fourth line, the altos and basses sing the
complete text, which has the same number of syllables as in stanza
3. As in stanzas 1 and 3, these two parts split at the end.
1:48--END OF SONG [50 mm.]
2. Das Mädchen (The Maiden). Text by
Siegfried Kapper, after a Serbian folk poem. Grazioso.
Two-part varied strophic form, with introduction. B MINOR/MAJOR,
3/4+4/4 time, usually arranged in groups of seven beats, with a
climactic passage in straight 2/4.
(Note: Op. 95, No. 1 is a version of this song for solo voice and
piano.)
German Text:
Stand das Mädchen, stand am Bergesabhang,
Widerschien der Berg von ihrem Antlitz,
Und das Mädchen sprach zu ihrem Antlitz:
“Wahrlich, Antlitz, o du meine Sorge,
Wenn ich wüßte, du mein weißes Antlitz,
Daß dereinst ein Alter dich wird küssen,
Ging hinaus ich zu den grünen Bergen,
Pflückte allen Wermut in den Bergen,
Preßte bitt'res Wasser aus dem Wermut,
Wüsche dich, o Antlitz, mit dem Wasser,
Daß du bitter, wenn dich küßt der Alte!
Wüßt' ich aber, du mein weißes Antlitz,
Daß dereinst ein Junger dich wird küssen,
Ging hinaus ich in den grünen Garten,
Pflückte alle Rosen in dem Garten,
Preßte duftend Wasser aus den Rosen,
Wüsche dich, o Antlitz, mit dem Wasser,
Daß du duftest, wenn dich küßt der Junge!”
English
Translation
The 3+4 meter is typical of Serbian folk poetry.
0:00 [m. 1]--Introduction.
Before the two contrasting and
parallel strophes, the choir introduces the protagonist in an
introductory passage of four lines. The four parts move together
in regular mixed meter, one 3/4 and one 4/4 bar per line in the same
rhythm. The passage is in B minor, ending on that key’s
“dominant” chord. The music slows and quiets somewhat in the last
line.
0:24 [m. 9]--Strophe 1, lines
1-2. The maiden’s speech actually
starts in the last line of the introduction, but the parallelism
between the two main strophes begins here. Still in the minor
key, the choir sings subdued phrases, and a soprano soloist
representing the maiden responds as the choir sings slower notes.
Here there are three 3/4 bars followed by three 4/4 bars rather than
the previous alternation. After three calls and responses, the
soloist and choir join in a forceful descending unison repetition of
line 2 over one 3/4+4/4 alternation.
0:45 [m. 17]--Strophe 1, lines
3-7. Back in the regular 3/4+4/4
alternation, the soloist leads the next four lines (3-6). While
remaining basically at the same pitch level, the soloist’s statements
intensify with each succeeding line. The choir sings parts of the
text with slow notes under the third and fourth lines, and then becomes
more active in the fifth and sixth. The basses split into two
parts here. The seventh line is another forceful statement from
the choir, this time in harmony, with the soloist joining the choral
sopranos. This clinching line is sung twice, leading to a strong
B-minor cadence.
1:16 [m. 29]--Strophe 2, lines
1-2. A very effective shift to the
major key heralds the contrasting and parallel second strophe.
The first two lines, other than being in major, are very similar to
those of the first strophe and are in the same metrical layout, with
the soloist responding to the choir three times. This time,
however, the descending repetition of line 2 is carried by the soloist
with slow harmonies from the choir, and it slows down and quiets
dramatically in a marked contrast to the forceful descent of the first
strophe.
1:40 [m. 37]--Strophe 2, lines
3-6. In a larger departure from
the first strophe, Brahms alters tempo and meter, marking the next
passage “Animato grazioso.” The meter shifts to straight 2/4 for
these lines, which are sung joyously by the choir, the soloist joining
the sopranos. Each line is given four measures in a steady
buildup of near-manic intensity. The tenors and altos move before
the sopranos and basses respond in each line. The sixth line is
extended by two long notes to six bars in preparation for the climactic
final line.
2:01 [m. 55]--Strophe 2, line
7. Brahms now marks the music
“Lebhaft” (“Lively”) for the final line. It is essentially a
major-key version of the twofold statement of this line in the first
strophe (mm. 25-28). In addition to the major key, the faster
tempo creates a contrast. After two 3/4+4/4 alterations, more
dotted (long-short) rhythms are added before the final two-bar
extension (both 4/4) and cadence, where basses and sopranos split into
two parts. It is a highly effective conclusion after a steady
buildup.
2:17--END OF SONG [60 mm.]
3. O süßer Mai! (O Sweet May!). Text by Karl
Joachim (“Achim”) Friedrich Ludwig von Arnim . Etwas gehalten
(Somewhat sustained). Through-composed with partial return.
C MAJOR, 3/4 time.
German Text:
O süßer Mai, der Strom ist frei,
ich steh verschlossen, mein Aug' verdrossen,
ich seh nicht deine grüne Tracht,
nicht deine buntgeblümte Pracht,
nicht deines Himmels blau, zur Erd ich schau.
O süßer Mai, mich lasse frei,
wie den Gesang an den dunklen Hecken entlang.
English
Translation
0:00 [m. 1]--Lines 1-2.
The beginning is strong, but steadily
diminishes in volume through these two lines. The lower parts
begin on an upbeat while the sopranos follow them on the downbeat at a
slightly faster speed, coming together at the end of each
half-line. The second line is more syncopated, and its second
half is drawn out, with the lower parts now on the downbeat. They
repeat the words “mein Aug’.” The harmonies are quite colorful,
and after the strong major-key opening, touch on D minor at the end of
the first line before settling on the home minor of C. Note the
characteristic descent of the soprano part on each half-line, by step
and then by broken chord.
0:30 [m. 12]--Lines 3-4.
The poem abandons the internal rhyme for
these two lines, which employ end rhyme. Perhaps to emphasize
this, Brahms sets them to shorter notes in a more flowing, arching
line. The soprano still lags behind the other parts, but again
they come together at the end of each line, with multiple (or longer)
notes set to later syllables in the lower parts. The fourth line
is higher and has more foreign chromatic notes than the third.
0:40 [m. 17]--Line 5. The
internal rhyme returns, as does the
musical pattern of the first two lines. The setting of this line
closely resembles that of Line 2, with nearly identical harmonies but
slightly more active text declamation. The lower parts repeat the
words “zur Erd.”
0:56 [m. 23]--Line 6 and first
half of line 7. Here Brahms
closely follows the settings of line 1 and the first half of line
2. The declamation of the latter is faster in the
lower parts, with repeated notes on the upbeat. The basses begin
to split into two parts, repeating the words “wie den Gesang,”
which the tenors later do.
1:08 [m. 29]--Line 7, second
half. Brahms breaks away from the
previous passage for an incredibly atmospheric close. The music
continues to slow down and diminish in volume, but the parts spin
themselves out, holding more closely to the major key. The parts
sing in greater counterpoint. The basses split into two parts for
a five-voice texture. The tenors and basses lag somewhat behind
in finishing the first half-line. The second half-line is set
twice in sopranos and altos, but not tenors and basses. All
voices except the lower basses, the women following the men, emerge
into a nearly breathless rising line on the drawn-out final word
“entlang,” which then fades away on a shimmering chord
1:37--END OF SONG [38 mm.]
4. Fahr wohl! (Farewell!). Text by Friedrich
Rückert. Sanft bewegt und sehr ausdrucksvoll (Gently moving
and very expressive). Simple strophic form. A-FLAT MAJOR,
6/8 time.
German Text:
Fahr wohl, o Vöglein, das nun wandern soll;
Der Sommer fährt von hinnen,
Du willst mit ihm entrinnen: Fahr wohl!
Fahr wohl, o Blättlein, das nun fallen soll,
Dich hat rot angestrahlet
Der Herbst im Tod gemalet: Fahr wohl!
Fahr wohl, o Liebes, das nun scheiden soll!
Und ob es so geschehe,
Daß ich nicht mehr dich sehe: Fahr wohl!
English
Translation
0:00 [m. 1]--Stanza 1, line
1. The characteristic upward gesture
on “Fahr wohl” begins the song on an upbeat. The music then
establishes its very pervasive, gently swinging rhythm. Brahms
adds indications on each long-short pattern that they should diminish
from the long note to the short note. All parts move together,
the altos on a striking descent by half-steps (chromatic motion).
The text beginning with “O Vöglein” is repeated, leading to a
brief expectant pause on “dominant” harmony.
0:13 [m. 7]--Stanza 1, lines
2-3. The descending second line
re-establishes the swinging rhythm in all parts. The final line
(before the “Fahr wohl!” refrain) is sung first by tenors and basses in
an swelling upward pattern. The sopranos and altos begin to
respond to this. The tenors join them on “mit ihm entrinnen,” the
basses entering only with “entrinnen.” This leads to
another pause on the harmony of D-flat major.
0:26 [m. 13]--Stanza 1,
refrain. The “Fahr wohl” refrain is set
twice. It is characterized by a descending leap in the sopranos
and another half-step line in the altos. The second statement,
which is a step lower and quieter, strongly suggests a closing cadence
in A-flat, but this is averted by the immediate entry of the next
strophe (stanza), which usurps the final cadence.
0:33 [m. 1]--Stanza 2, line
1. Set as in stanza 1. The text
beginning with “O Blättlein” is repeated before the pause.
0:45 [m. 7]--Stanza 2, lines
2-3. As in stanza 1. On the
repetition of line 3, the tenors join on “im Tod gemalet,” the basses
only on “gemalet.” Pause on D-flat harmony before the refrain.
0:58 [m. 13]--Stanza 2,
refrain. As in stanza 1, with the cadence
averted by the entry of the third strophe.
1:04 [m. 1]--Stanza 3, line
1. Set as in the first two
stanzas. The text beginning with “O Liebes” is repeated before
the pause.
1:17 [m. 7]--Stanza 3, lines
2-3. As in the first two
stanzas. On the repetition of line 3, the tenors join on “nicht
mehr dich sehe,” the basses only on “dich sehe.” Pause on D-flat
harmony before the refrain.
1:30 [m. 13]--Stanza 3,
refrain. As in the first two
stanzas. The following coda resolves the cadence.
1:37 [m. 17]--Coda. The
brief coda begins as had all the stanzas,
with the upward gesture on “Fahr wohl.” Instead of launching into
another stanza, it settles down to the long-avoided cadence in A-flat,
but even at the end, the keynote is not in the soprano voice,
suggesting a lack of finality. The coda sets the final words
“Fahr wohl” twice, for a total of four statements after the third
strophe.
1:52--END OF SONG [19 mm.]
5. Der Falke (The Falcon). Text by
Siegfried Kapper, after a Serbian folk poem. Lebhaft
(Lively). Modified strophic form for three stanzas, then two
highly varied strophes for the last two (AA’A’BC) F MAJOR, 3/4 time,
with two bars of 3/2 at the end.
German Text:
Hebt ein Falke sich empor,
wiegt die Schwingen stolz und breit,
fliegt empor, dann rechtshin weit,
bis er schaut der Veste Tor.
An dem Tor ein Mädchen sitzt,
wäscht ihr weißes Angesicht,
Schnee der Berge glänzet nicht,
wie ihr weißer Nacken glitzt.
Wie es wäscht und wie es sitzt,
hebt es auf die schwarzen Brau'n,
und kein Nachtstern ist zu schau'n,
wie ihr schwarzes Auge blitzt.
Spricht der Falke aus den Höhn:
"O du Mädchen wunderschön!
Wasche nicht die Wange dein,
daß sie schneeig glänze nicht!
Hebe nicht die Braue fein,
daß dein Auge blitze nicht!
Hüll den weißen Nacken ein,
daß mir nicht das Herze bricht!"
English
Translation
0:00 [m. 1]--Stanza 1 (A).
A very strong triple meter, often placing emphasis on the second
beat. All four voices move together. The initial soprano
gesture is a triplet figure, but dotted (long-short) rhythms prevail
otherwise. The music is rather forceful and upbeat, reaching its
climax at the last line. This last line is repeated for emphasis
and a powerful cadence.
0:20 [m. 11]--Stanza 2 (A’).
The stanza begins quietly, building at the third line and making the
climax in the fourth even more striking. The sopranos sing the
same music as in stanza 1, but the other three voices are given a much
more active counterpoint, no longer moving with the sopranos. In
fact, the tenors lead in with a triplet upbeat not present in stanza
1. The basses enter last, after the sopranos and altos, following
the descending tenor line with one of their own. This
counterpoint continues through the stanza, including the repeat of the
last line, but toward the end the voices move more closely together.
0:40 [m. 21]--Stanza 3 (A’).
Musically identical to stanza 2.
0:59 [m. 31]--Stanza 4 (B).
This stanza is set to completely different music. The altos split
into two parts for a new five-voice texture in the first two
lines. The sopranos and tenors begin with an upbeat repeated note
in unison, the altos and basses following in harmony with shorter
notes. All is quiet and subdued. The altos and basses also
follow in the second line as the falcon speaks. From the third
line, the roles are reversed, with the altos and basses taking the lead
as the dotted rhythm returns. All voices come together on the
last line. There is a more restrained buildup from the third
line, and the last line is not repeated. Bold harmonies move the
music away from the main key. The first and fourth lines are in D
major, the second and third in B-flat
1:20 [m. 40]--Stanza 5 (C).
The music is again new, but it continues the progress and buildup of
stanza 4. The voices move together throughout. The keys of
B-flat and D remain important. The first and third lines are set
to the same music, beginning with an arching line in the sopranos and
basses. They are in B-flat. The second line moves back to D
and is very similar to the last line of stanza 4. The last line
finally and strongly brings the music back to the home key of F,
reaching a powerful climax. During this line and its repetition,
the music of the first three stanzas returns in a seamless and
satisfying way.
1:40 [m. 50]--The last two
lines of stanza 5 are quietly and
effectively repeated. The third line is set to music in D major
from the first line of stanza 4, with the unison sopranos and tenors
followed by the basses and divided altos in harmony. The last
line returns quickly back to F. The basses divide here, and the
music becomes very quiet. The sopranos and higher basses in
unison are followed by the altos, tenors, and lower basses in very
colorful harmonies. Brahms stretches the last two bars out to 3/2
meter in an elongation of the extremely warm and gentle final cadence.
2:07--END OF SONG [56 mm.]
6. Beherzigung (Encouragement). Text by
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Kräftig und lebhaft (Strong and
lively). Two part canonic through-composed form. D
MINOR/MAJOR, 3/4 and 2/4 time.
German Text:
Feiger Gedanken
bängliches Schwanken,
weibisches Zagen,
ängstliches Klagen
wendet kein Elend,
macht dich nicht frei.
Allen Gewalten
zum Trutz sich erhalten,
nimmer sich beugen,
kräftig sich zeigen,
rufet die Arme
der Götter herbei!
English
Translation
The entire song is sung at a loud (forte)
level.
0:00 [m. 1]--Stanza 1. An
austere canon (direct imitation) at the
distance of one bar in triple time, with the men following the women an
octave lower. It begins in D minor, but quickly moves to A
minor. For the first two lines, the two voice pairs are in
unison, but they break into harmony (largely contrary motion within
each pair) at “weibisches Zagen.” The men skip the word
“ängstliches,” and the canon actually breaks at “wendet kein
Elend,” where all four voices sing the words together in full
harmony. The last line, “macht dich nicht frei,” is forcefully
repeated. The strong cadence in A minor ends with a major chord,
the so-called “picardy third,” in preparation for the major key of the
second stanza.
0:23 [m. 16]--Stanza 2.
The meter shifts to a very quick and
steady 2/4. The key is now D major, prepared by the previous
A-major chord. Another canon begins, with the women (sopranos and
altos) now following the men (tenors and basses) an octave
higher. The voice pairs are in harmony throughout, often in
contrary motion within each pair. Note how Brahms easily deals
with the extra syllable in the second and sixth lines, using rests
before the other five-syllable lines. The canon never really
breaks, as the men simply add two notes to the word “Götter” and
all voices come to an expectant pause on “herbei.”
0:48 [m. 40]--The last two
lines are emphatically repeated to new
music. The basses enter two bars later than the other voices,
preserving the spirit of the canons. The top three voices
lengthen the notes on “Götter herbei” so that the basses can
“catch up” at the final chord
1:05--END OF SONG [48 mm.]
END OF SET
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