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.
Ich such' im Schnee vergebens
I seach in the snow in vain
Nach ihrer Tritte Spur,
After her footsteps? trace,
Wo sie an meinem Arme
Where she on my arm
Durchstrich die grüne Flur
Crossed the green field
Ich will den Boden küssen,
I want the ground to kiss,
Durchdringen Eis und Schnee
Penetrate ice and snow
Mit meinen heißen Tränen,
With my hot tears,
Bis ich die Erde seh'.
Until I the earth see.
Wo find' ich eine Blüte,
Where find I a flower,
Wo find' ich grünes Gras?
Where find I green grass?
Die Blumen sind erstorben
The flowers have died
Der Rasen sieht so blaß.
The turf looks so pale.
Soll denn kein Angedenken
Shall then no souvenir
Ich nehmen mit von hier?
I take with me from here?
Wenn meine Schmerzen schweigen,
When my pains are silenced,
Wer sagt mir dann von ihr?
Who will speak to me then of her?
Mein Herz ist wie erstorben,
My heart is as frozen,
Kalt starrt ihr Bild darin;
Coldly freezes her image within;
Schmilzt je das Herz mir wieder,
Melts ever the heart mine again
Fließt auch ihr Bild dahin!
Would flow also her image away!