Schubert's Songs

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1. Franz Schubert was an extraordinarily talented musical prodigy, and by the age of 18 in 1815 he had begun work on the first songs of his maturity. The first of these to gain attention was set to a dramatic and fantastical ballad by Goethe. The piano accompaniment was so difficult that Schubert himself complained that he couldn't play it. What was the name of the song? Tod und das Maedchen (Death and the Maiden) Ganymed Selma und Selmar Der Erlkoenig (The Earl King)

2. 'Gretchen am Spinnrad' (Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel) was composed when Schubert was only 17. It (eventually) became well-known for the intensity of the piano score that highlighted the sensuality of the text. It was also by Goethe - from one of his plays. Which one? Egmont Faust Iphigenia Goetz von Berlichingen

3. In 1826 Schubert wrote two songs - 'Staendchen' and 'An Silvia' to translated texts by a British author who was all the rage in Vienna at that time. Who was he? William Shakespeare Percy Shelley Lord Byron Samuel Coleridge

4. In 1825 Schubert composed the song which has become arguably his most famous. Oddly, its text is not original. The song came into being as 'Ellens dritter Gesang' (Ellen's Third Song), with a translated text by Sir Walter Scott. This was replaced after Schubert's death with the text that is generally sung today. What is the song in question? 'Serenade' 'Der Koenig in Thule' (The King in Thule) 'Ave Maria' 'Die Forelle' (The Trout)

5. Schubert obviously liked the melodies to two of his songs well enough to use them in chamber works. Which two songs are they? 'Die Forelle' and 'Tod und das Maedchen' 'Der Musensohn' and 'Der Juengling and der Quelle' 'Die Forelle' and 'Alinde' 'Der Musensohn' and 'Seligkeit'

6. There are 3 Schubertian song cycles. Two the composer composed from existing texts by one author, and the third is a posthumous compilation of songs he wrote during the last years of his life. Which one is the compilation? 'Schwanengesang' (Swan Song) 'Die Schoene Muellerin' (The Beautiful Maid of the Mill) 'Die Winterreise' (The Winter Journey) 'Berlin Alexanderplatz'

7. When he was 19 years old, Schubert composed a short song to a text written by Franz von Schober. It goes, 'O blessed art, how often in dark hours...have you transported me to a better world!' What's he talking about? Religious faith Music Poetry Drama

8. In 1828, the year of his death, Schubert composed the lovely pastorale, 'Der Hirt auf dem Felsen' (The Shepherd on the Rock). This song is a departure for a couple of reasons, the first being that the text is cobbled together from the work of two poets. What else is different about this song? It is scored for soprano and chorus It is sung a cappela It is scored for piano and violin It is scored for clarinet and piano

9. At the end of Thomas Mann's 'The Magic Mountain', we see the hero, Hans Casdorp, running across a World War I battlefield while singing a song from 'Die Winterreise'. It is certainly the best-known of the songs from that cycle and a standard in recital. What song is he singing? 'Der Lindenbaum' (The Linden Tree) 'Der Leiermann' (The Organ-grinder) 'Letzte Hoffnung ' (Last Hope) 'Gefrorne Traene' (Frozen Tears)

10. 'Der Leiermann' (The Organ-grinder) is the last and the saddest of the songs in the 'Winterreise' Song cycle. A lot of people think that Schubert took this song quite personally. Why? He was poor and obscure for most of his life He felt himself to be more entertainer than artist He loved the organ above all other instruments He wrote the text himself