In
Lied des Verfolgten im Turm, to the refrain of ‘Die Gedanken sind frei’, a political prisoner steadfastly maintains his courage against the pleas of his beloved. At first there is a complete contrast between his music and hers, suggesting she has no comprehension of the high ideals that have landed him in prison in the first place. But as she becomes more desperate and he more obdurate, elements of her complaints begin to infect his music. Nevertheless the song ends with his reiterating the refrain—‘Thoughts are free’.
from notes by Roger Vignoles © 2008
;)
