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.
Was vermeid' ich denn die Wege,
Why avoid I then the roads,
Wo die ander'n Wand'rer gehn,
Where the other travelers walk,
Suche mir versteckte Stege
Search for me hidden paths
Durch verschneite Felsenhöh'n?
Through snow covered rocky heights?
Habe ja doch nichts begangen,
I have truly then nothing committed,
Daß ich Menschen sollte scheu'n, -
That I people should shun ?
Welch ein törichtes Verlangen
What a foolish desire
Treibt mich in die Wüstenei'n?
Drives me into the wilderness?
Weiser stehen auf den Wegen,
Signposts stand along the ways,
Weisen auf die Städte zu,
Showing the way to the towns (to),
Und ich wand're sonder Maßen
And I walk without measure
Ohne Ruh' und suche Ruh'.
Without rest and seeking rest.
Einen Weiser seh' ich stehen
A signpost see I standing
Unverrückt vor meinem Blick;
Unmoving before my gaze;
Eine Straße muß ich gehen,
One road must I walk,
Die noch keiner ging zurück.
That no one has ever returned.