Welcome to Hyperion Records, an independent British classical label devoted to presenting high-quality recordings of music of all styles and from all periods from the twelfth century to the twenty-first.
Hyperion offers both CDs, and downloads in a number of formats. The site is also available in several languages.
Please use the dropdown buttons to set your preferred options, or use the checkbox to accept the defaults.
After a spread chord the song opens with a gentle hymn-like melody, a rising scale of four notes prophetic of the opening of he 1816 Uz setting Die Nacht. The tunefulness of this first verse changes effortlessly and naturally to a new mood for the second, when clouds and sunset (with a downward arpeggio to denote the sinking sun) seem to require the rhythmic haze of recitative. The third verse is a highly effective mixture of the two elements, flowering into the positively Mozartian melody and Magic Flute fommality of the fourth. This leads to more recitative (sextuplets briefly illustrate the grinding of the big wheel of the world's clock) ending with a beautiful cadence on the words 'bluhen wieder auf der Flor' which is echoed on the piano. The sixth and seventh verses (a section marked 'Massig geschwind') build up to the sort of expansive climax which would have crowned many a ballad by Reichardt; the slightly wayward feeling of these modulations is ideal for a wavering flame flickering across the moor. shafts of light piercing the mists as the harmonies pass through an arpeggiated thicket of deceptive sharps to the clarity of C major. The simple device of representing upwardly soaring tone with a somewhat lame rising arpeggio figure on the piano is a device from an earlier age, a last vestige of undigested Zumsteeg; it does not prepare us for the daring of the piece's last recitative (Verse 8). The worm writhes his way from C to B major, and thence to C sharp major. The fear engendered by this twisting journey is suddenly countermanded with speed and tenacity by a grand rebuttal. Such hypochondriacal imaginings as might be encouraged by the exotic presence of C sharp major (on the word 'Staub') are summarily banished: E sharps are flattened by the presence of A major anchored deep on the keyboard by the pianist's tolling left hand, the right hand articulating and flexing the music's rippling muscles. This is reminiscent of the triumphant music on the last page of Hektors Abschied D312 (also marked 'Schnell' and written eight months later) in which the Trojan Hedor proclaims that his love is immortal and impervious to Lethe. The finales to both Hektors Abschied and Auf einen Kirchhof are defiant assertions of belief in immortality, music of reckless bravery, not of quiet and passive conviction. Despite the Christian context of this poem (and Schlechta revised it greatly later, pruning it to six verses) the shades of Gluck and his pagan libretti are never far away. And it is certain that Schubert was on the verge of being influenced by the anti-Christian classicism of his new friend Mayrhofer.
from notes by Graham Johnson © 1990
Schubert: The Complete Songs ‘This would have been a massive project for even the biggest international label, but from a small independent … it is a miracle. An ideal Christ ... ‘Please give me the complete Hyperion Schubert songs set—all 40 discs—and, in the next life, I promise I'll "re-gift" it to Schubert himself … fo ...» More |