Franz Schubert?s ?Winterreise? is a collection of 24 songs set to poems by Wilhelm Muller. ?Winterreise? was composed in two parts with twelve songs each, mostly in minor keys. The cycle follows no narrative, and remains introverted, dark, and cold throughout. The main themes are of anguish, desperation, and journeying, coupled with images of ice, snow, death, and tears. As one could guess from the somber text and accompanying music, Schubert wrote the cycle when he was dying of syphilis and the last thing he did on this earth was correct the proofs for part 2. Musically, the work is among Schubert?s finest and through it he elevates the pianist to the level of the singer as the piano supplies rhythmic variation and intense imagery such as birds crowing, winter elements, and the posthorn calling.
Wie eine trübe Wolke
As a cloud dark
Durch heit're Lüfte geht,
Passes through skies clear,
Wenn in der Tanne Wipfel
When in the fir tree tops
Ein mattes Lüftchen weht:
A faint breeze wafts:
So zieh ich meine Straße
So make I my way
Dahin mit trägem Fuß,
To there with heavy steps,
Durch helles, frohes Leben,
Through bright, joyful life,
Einsam und ohne Gruß.
Alone and without greeting.
Ach, daß die Luft so ruhig!
Ah, that the air so calm!
Ach, daß die Welt so licht!
Ah, that the world so bright!
Als noch die Stürme tobten,
When still the storms raged,
War ich so elend nicht.
Was I so miserable not.