vividreports: Das Hirt auf dem Felson - The Shepherd on the Rock

One of the pieces that particularly caught our attention at Marlboro this week was a song by Franz Schubert, Das Hirt auf dem Felsen, written for soprano, piano and clarinet. It has been recorded many times by various groups (including one in the distant past at Marlboro featuring Rudolph Serkin, piano; Benita Valente, soprano and Harold Wright, clarinet, which is on YouTube and well worth listening to). Our favorite from the past features Elly Ameling, soprano, whose delicate, nuanced voice is perfect for this piece. What we heard last week featured Lydia Brown, piano; Lucy Fitz Gibbon, soprano; and Yuhsin Galaxy Su, clarinet. They were all top-notch, as all Marlboro Music Festivsl musicians are, but Yuhsin Su, the clarinetist, seemed to us to be a step above: she was extraordinary. Ellen said, "I felt I was hearing the clsrinet for the first time an entirely new instrument." Su played with her entire body, and the clarinet was a part of her body. She was mesmerizing to listen to and to watch. Fitts Gibbon was at her best in the middle section of the song, which is softer snd more anguished. There, her voice and the clarinet matched each other beautifully. In the brighter passages, her high range was more explosive and not as light and nuanced as I would have liked - not like Elly Ameling, who is perfect. But we never ceased to enjoy hearing the piece, and since it is short, we did hear it several times. That piece and the Brahms Piano Quartet were our favorites of the week, but the Schubert Piano Trio, the Beethoven Clarinet Trio and the Dvorak Terzetta were also all beautiful. And on Saturday we heard a Britten String Quartet for the first time which was interesting, extremely difficult, and at times even beautiful. So it was quite a week. Katie Tolles joined us on Saturday and heard the Schubert "Shepherd," the Brahms Quartet and the Britton. I think she really enjoyed being there, and the three of us had a little picnic lunch in a shed that covered s couple of picnic tables a short walk across a field behind the ooncert hall. Here is the text and translation of Das Hirt auf dem Felsen:, and some notes: "Schubert wrote Der Hirt auf dem Felsen (“The Shepherd on the Rock”) in 1828 for Pauline Anna Milder-Hauptmann, one of the leading soprano singers at the time. The piece explores a range of emotion for the singer, per Milder’s request. It begins with a solemn lament from a shepherd towards his lover, growing darker as the shepherd is consumed by his feelings, until the coming of spring revives his spirits. Der Hirt auf dem Felsen has also become a staple of clarinet repertoire, featuring the instrument through various poetic interludes between verses and call and-response phrases from the singer that evoke an echo effect. The piece was eventually performed by Milder-Hauptmann; however Schubert had already been dead for two years at the time of its premiere." - Part One: Wilhelm Müller – "Der Berghirt" (The Mountain Shepherd) Wenn auf dem höchsten Fels ich steh', In's tiefe Tal hernieder seh', Und singe. Fern aus dem tiefen dunkeln Tal Schwingt sich empor der Widerhall Der Klüfte. Je weiter meine Stimme dringt, Je heller sie mir wieder klingt Von unten. Mein Liebchen wohnt so weit von mir, Drum sehn' ich mich so heiß nach ihr Hinüber.[6] When, from the highest rock up here, I look deep down into the valley, And sing, Far from the valley dark and deep Echoes rush through, upward and back to me, The chasm. The farther that my voice resounds, So much the brighter it echoes From under. My sweetheart dwells so far from me, I long hotly to be with her Over there. Part Two: Varnhagen – "Nächtlicher Schall" (Nightly Sound) In tiefem Gram verzehr ich mich, Mir ist die Freude hin, Auf Erden mir die Hoffnung wich, Ich hier so einsam bin. So sehnend klang im Wald das Lied, So sehnend klang es durch die Nacht, Die Herzen es zum Himmel zieht Mit wunderbarer Macht.[3] I am consumed in misery, Happiness is far from me, Hope has on earth eluded me, I am so lonesome here. So longingly did sound the song, So longingly through wood and night, Towards heaven it draws all hearts With amazing strength. Part Three: Wilhelm Müller – "Liebesgedanken" (Love Thoughts) Der Frühling will kommen, Der Frühling, meine Freud', Nun mach' ich mich fertig Zum Wandern bereit.[7] The Springtime will come, The Springtime, my happiness, Now must I make ready To wander forth.