Schumann: Waldszenen, Op. 82, VII. Vogel als Prophet (Hamelin)

Schumann: Waldszenen, Op. 82 VII. Vogel als Prophet Robert Schumann (1810–1856) Waldszenen (Forest Scenes), Op. 82, is a cycle of nine character pieces for solo piano. Schumann sketched it on Christmas Eve 1848 and completed the bulk early in January 1849, adding the famous seventh piece, Vogel als Prophet, a few days afterward. He dedicated the set to Fraeulein Annette Preusser (1826-1889), and it was first published in 1850 and 1851 in Leipzig by Bartholf Senff, who announced the work in the 30 November 1850 issue of Signale fuer die musikalische Welt. The nine pieces trace a loose narrative arc resembling a walk through a forest, from Eintritt (Entry) to Abschied (Farewell), passing through varied emotional terrain. B-flat major frames the cycle, opening Eintritt, returning in Einsame Blumen and Freundliche Landschaft, and closing Abschied, anchoring the tonal design so that the opening and closing pieces correspond. Schumann held that good music needs no sign-post, yet a significant and apt verbal heading prevents misunderstanding of the music's character, and the German titles guide the listener through hunters on the lookout, lonely flowers, a haunted place, a wayside inn, and a final farewell. Of the several literary mottos he noted in his 1850 engraver's copy, only one survived into the first edition: verses by Friedrich Hebbel, from the poem Boeser Ort (Evil Place), attached to the dark fourth piece, Verrufene Stelle. Clara Schumann always excluded that fourth piece from her concert performances, yet she first performed the Waldszenen as a cycle publicly in 1869 in London. Vogel als Prophet (Bird as Prophet) is the cycle's famous centrepiece, set in G minor. Schumann added it a few days after completing the rest of the set, and marks it Langsam, sehr zart (slow, very tender), with a metronome indication of quarter-note equals 63. Its high, flute-like motif clearly imitates bird calls, and the music moves from a sombre minor key to bright, choral-like G-major sections that seem to originate in an imagined place, lending an air of vision and transcendence. This is the only piece Schumann composed slightly apart from the others, joining the cycle just after the bulk was finished early in January 1849, and it has become the most celebrated number of the set. Marked very tender and very slow, it asks for the lightest, most delicate touch, the bird's prophecy hovering above the forest before the boisterous Jagdlied and the closing farewell return the cycle to firmer ground. Marc-André Hamelin, piano From the album: Schumann: Scenes from Childhood; Waldszenen – Janáček: On the Overgrown Path, Book 1 Released: 27 October 2023 Source: FLAC · 327 kbps UPC 00602448807359 Other movements of this work: · I. Eintritt:    • Schumann: Waldszenen, Op. 82, I. Eintritt ...   · II. Jäger auf der Lauer:    • Schumann: Waldszenen, Op. 82, II. Jäger au...   · III. Einsame Blumen:    • Schumann: Waldszenen, Op. 82, III. Einsame...   · IV. Verrufene Stelle:    • Schumann: Waldszenen, Op. 82, IV. Verrufen...   · V. Freundliche Landschaft:    • Schumann: Waldszenen, Op. 82, V. Freundlic...   · VI. Herberge:    • Schumann: Waldszenen, Op. 82, VI. Herberge...   Also on this album: · Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17, Book 1, I. Our Evenings (Hamelin):    • Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17...   · Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17, Book 1, II. A Blown-Away Leaf (Hamelin):    • Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17...   · Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17, Book 1, III. Come with Us (Hamelin):    • Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17...   · Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17, Book 1, IV. The Frýdek Madonna (Hamelin):    • Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17...   · Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17, Book 1, V. They Chattered Like Swallows (Hamelin):    • Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17...   · Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17, Book 1, VI. Words Fail (Hamelin):    • Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17...   · Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17, Book 1, VII. Good Night (Hamelin):    • Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17...   · Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17, Book 1, VIII. Unutterable Anguish (Hamelin):    • Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17...   · Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17, Book 1, IX. In Tears (Hamelin):    • Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17...   · Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17, Book 1, X. The Barn Owl Has Not Flown Away (Hamelin):    • Schumann: On an Overgrown Path, JW VIII/17...   Listen across larger scopes: · This work's playlist (autoplay):    • Marc-André Hamelin · Schumann: Waldszenen,...   · Album playlist (autoplay):    • Marc-André Hamelin · Schumann: Scenes from...   #Schumann #Hamelin #ClassicalMusic