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.
Auf einen Totenacker
To a graveyard
hat mich mein Weg gebracht;
has me my path brought;
Allhier will ich einkehren,
Here will I lodge,
hab' ich bei mir gedacht.
Have I to myself thought.
Ihr grünen Totenkränze
You green funeral wreaths
könnt wohl die Zeichen sein,
could well the signs be,
Die müde Wand'rer laden
The tired travelers invite
ins kühle Wirtshaus ein.
Into the cool in.
Sind denn in diesem Hause
Are then in this house
die Kammern all' besetzt?
The rooms all occupied?
Bin matt zum Niedersinken,
I am weary to dropping,
bin tödlich schwer verletzt.
And am mortally deeply wounded.
O unbarmherz'ge Schenke,
Oh uncompassionate inn,
doch weisest du mich ab?
Then turn you me away?
Nun weiter denn, nur weiter,
Now farther then, just farther,
mein treuer Wanderstab!
My trusty walking stick!