Franz Schubert’s vocal cycle Winterreise, tells the story of a man who has embarked on a long winters journey. All twenty-four pieces in the song cycle share similar themes, metaphors, and central conflicts. Two pieces in particular are Rast (Rest) and Einsamkeit (Solitude). The narrator is weak, torn, and mentally unstable for his travels. He longs for true love, but winter’s sorrow has taken its toll. Therefore, these two works are related to one another through the analysis of text, key signature, and central metaphor.

Rast is the tenth song in Winterreise and is in strophic form. The piece is set in the key of D minor and the A section consists of two similar phrases. The a phrase concludes with a perfect authentic cadence (m.10) and is followed by the a^’ which changes tonality with a perfect authentic cadence in the key of F major (m.15). These two phrases share a special relationship with the text. The cadence that occurs in both of these phrases occurs on a word that depicts struggle and travel. The a phrase ends on “Da ich zur Ruh mich lege” (as I to the sleep myself lie down) and the a^’ phase ends on “Auf unwirtbarem Wege” (on inhospitable paths). The a phrase cadence depicts how slowed down, worn out, and frazzled the narrator is from his travel. A’ talks of how his travels prevent him from sleeping. His thoughts of longing for true love keep him unsettled during his time of rest. The use of F major puts much weight on his feelings of sorrow and loneliness. The B section consists of six small phrases. The a phrase ends with a perfect authentic cadence in G major (m.18), the b phrase ends with a perfect authentic cadence in F major (m.20), the c phrase ends on a half cadence in the tonic key of D minor (m.22), the d phrase has a perfect authentic cadence (m.25), the c^’ phrase has a half cadence (m.28), and the d^’ phrase concludes with a perfect authentic cadence (m.31). The A and B^’ section return and follow the same phrase structure.

Shubert uses an example of an unsung voice in the phrase “doch meine Glieder ruhn nicht aus, So brennen ihre Wunden” (yet my limbs rest not so burn their bruises) (m.42-45). The vocal melody and the piano are playing a very calm and melodic passage. The text gives off the impression that the narrator is not content with his aching body, ultimately giving into his sorrow. The narrator lacks motivation to go on and has given up. Schubert also uses an example of word painting by using contrasting phrases and dynamics. The phrase “Fühlst in der Still’ erst deunen Wurm/Mit heissen Stich sich regent” (feel in its stillness the serpent stir with its hot sting!) demonstrates this. The first half of the phrase (m.57-58) talks of how the narrator is able to feel a serpent on his body. The music during this is calm and peaceful. When the narrator feels the hot sting of the serpent, the music becomes more intense. This dramatic effect puts an emphasis on the narrators overall emotional well being. The narrator seems to have a lot doubt surrounding his own strength. He does not put up a very strong fight to change his situation, rather just accepts his loneliness and despair.  Continue reading A Music and Text Analysis of Franz Schubert’s Winterreise →