Auf dem Strom

As probably the most prolific song composer of all time, Franz Schubert (1797-1828) would inevitably have many works centering on water; indeed you heard two such settings if you attended Saturday’s concert. Auf dem Strom was written for a specific occasion, which helps explain its unique scoring for voice, horn, and piano. On March 26, 1828 Schubert hosted the single concert during his lifetime that included only his music. He had secured the hall of the Vienna Philharmonic Society and engaged a famous horn player, Josef Lewy, and high tenor, Ludwig Titze. Moreover, the original date of the concert was postponed to coincide with the first anniversary of Beethoven’s death. The text of the song, penned by Rellstab, had been offered to Beethoven to set, though the latter had not lived long enough to achieve that end. Schubert enjoys the opportunity to pay homage to the deceased master both in general style and in direct quotations from Beethoven’s “Eroica” Symphony. Though Schubert was a pall bearer at Beethoven’s funeral, the song offers a more poignant leave-taking than could be expressed just in words.

(c) Jason Stell