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.
Fremd bin ich eingezogen,
As a stranger I arrived,
Fremd zieh' ich wieder aus.
As a stranger I shall leave.
Der Mai war mir gewogen
May was to me kind
Mit manchem Blumenstrauß.
With many flower bunches.
Das Mädchen sprach von Liebe,
The maiden spoke of love,
Die Mutter gar von Eh', -
The mother even of marriage ?
Nun ist die Welt so trübe,
Now is the world so bleak,
Der Weg gehüllt in Schnee.
The path covered in snow.
Ich kann zu meiner Reisen
I cannot choose the season
Nicht wählen mit der Zeit,
To depart with this place
Muß selbst den Weg mir weisen
I must the way myself find
In dieser Dunkelheit.
In this darkness.
Es zieht ein Mondenschatten
This moon shadow
Als mein Gefährte mit,
As my companion with me,
Und auf den weißen Matten
And on the white fields
Such' ich des Wildes Tritt.
Search I for animal tracks.
Was soll ich länger weilen,
Why should I linger while,
Daß man mich trieb hinaus?
Until I am driven out?
Laß irre Hunde heulen
Let stray dogs howl
Vor ihres Herren Haus;
Outside their master?s house;
Die Liebe liebt das Wandern ?
Love loves to wander ?
Gott hat sie so gemacht ?
God has made it so ?
Von einem zu dem andern.
From one to the other.
Fein Liebchen, gute Nacht!
Good love, good night!
Will dich im Traum nicht stören,
I will your dreams not disturb,
Wär schad' um deine Ruh',
It would be a pity to disturb your rest,
Sollst meinen Tritt nicht hören ?
You shall my footsteps not hear ?
Sacht, sacht die Türe zu!
Softly, softly shut the door!
Schreib' im Vorübergehen
I will write a farewell message
An's Tor dir: Gute Nacht
On your door: Good night
Damit du mögest sehen,
So that you may see,
An dich hab' ich gedacht.
That I have of you thought.