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.
Nun merk' ich erst, wie müd' ich bin,
Now notice I first, how tired I am,
Da ich zur Ruh' mich lege:
When I to rest myself lay:
Das Wandern hielt mich munter hin
The walking kept me lively throughout
Auf unwirtbarem Wege.
On the inhospitable road.
Die Füße frugen nicht nach Rast,
The feet asked not for rest,
Es war zu kalt zum Stehen;
It was too cold for standing;
Der Rücken fühlte keine Last,
The back felt no burden,
Der Sturm half fort mich wehen.
The storm helped forward me blow.
In eines Köhlers engem Haus
In a charcoal-burner?s narrow hut
Hab' Obdach ich gefunden;
Have shelter I found;
Doch meine Glieder ruh'n nicht aus:
But my limbs rest not out:
So brennen ihre Wunden.
So burn their wounds.
Auch du, mein Herz, in Kampf und Sturm
Also you, my hear, in struggle and storm
So wild und so verwegen,
So fierce and so daring,
Fühlst in der Still' erst deinen Wurm
You feel in the quiet first your worm
Mit heißem Stich sich regen!
With hot sting it stirs!