Classical Composer: | Schubert, Franz |
---|---|
Lyricist: | Craigher de Jachelutta, Jakob Nikolaus, Reichsfreiherr von |
Work: | Die junge Nonne, Op. 43, No. 1, D. 828 |
Year Composed: | 1825 |
Instrumentation: | v, pf |
Publisher: | Breitkopf & Härtel |
Duration: | 00:04:00 |
Period: | Romantic |
Work Category: | Vocal |
Work Information
Available Recording(s)
'Die junge Nonne' (The Young Nun), D. 828, is a perfect example of romantic 'overheating': its nocturnal monologue revolves around rebellion and peace, darkness and light, earthly and heavenly love. In the first part of the song Schubert's grandiose music brings dramatic harmonic reversals, chaotic displacements and groaning intensity under the one roof of continuous piano tremolos. These are carried by a menacing ascending chain of octaves in the bass of the piano, 'crowned' by a two-note, muffled, disaster-proclaiming fanfare. In the middle of the song the sound and colour of the music varies: the harmony changes to the major, the signal of death is silenced and the tone changes from cold gloom to emphatic enthusiasm. Only once, however ('Erlöse die Seele von irdischer Haft!' / 'Free my soul from its earthly prison!') does the music fall back into its initial tormenting F sharp minor and hover for this moment between heaven and hell. After that, in an equally simple and brilliant turn, the two-note motif appears again, changed into the peaceful tolling of the 'bell from the tower' ('Glöcklein vom Turm') that calls the nun in religious rapture 'Powerfully to heavenly heights' ('allmächtig zu ewigen Höh'n').
Writer: Ulrich Eisenlohr
Translated by: Keith Anderson
No. | Catalogue No. | Album Title | Label | Featured Artist |
---|