An den Mond

“An den Mond” (To the Moon) unfolds as a clear ABA design, in which the framing sections are marked by their F-minor tonality and arpeggiated accompaniment. Schubert combines a vocal highpoint with fully-diminished harmony to emphasize two emotionally charged words in the A material: first, “Phantasien,” and later, “weine.” The B material is livelier, set in the relative major (A-flat), and more chordal. Schubert wonderfully captures the reverential aspect of this central stanza, which begins with an about-face at “Enthülte dich” (Now unveil thyself). This brighter turn is trumped at the start of the closing A section by the resumption of the moon’s dark veil, and the song ends in a gloomy F minor.

(c) Jason Stell