Composer

:

Franz Schubert

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1827

Average_duration

:

4:21

"Wasserflut" is the sixth song in Franz Schubert's song cycle "Winterreise," Op. 89, D. 911. The cycle was composed in 1827, just a year before Schubert's death, and premiered in Vienna in 1828. "Winterreise" consists of 24 songs, all set to poems by Wilhelm Müller, and tells the story of a young man who has been rejected by his lover and sets out on a journey through the winter landscape, experiencing despair, loneliness, and ultimately, acceptance of his fate. "Wasserflut" is a somber and haunting song that captures the bleakness of the winter landscape. The piano accompaniment is sparse and repetitive, with a descending pattern that evokes the sound of falling snow. The vocal line is similarly repetitive, with the same melody repeated for each stanza, but with subtle variations in rhythm and phrasing that convey the narrator's changing emotions. The text of "Wasserflut" describes the narrator's journey through a snowy landscape, with the snow and ice symbolizing the coldness and emptiness of his heart. He sees a frozen stream and imagines that it is his own tears that have turned to ice. He longs for the warmth of his lover's embrace, but knows that it is impossible. The final stanza is particularly poignant, as the narrator realizes that he is alone in the world and that even the snow and ice will eventually melt away, leaving nothing behind. Overall, "Wasserflut" is a powerful example of Schubert's ability to capture the emotional depth and complexity of human experience through music. The repetitive nature of the song reflects the narrator's sense of being trapped in his own despair, while the sparse accompaniment and haunting melody create a sense of desolation and isolation. Despite its bleakness, however, "Wasserflut" is a beautiful and moving work that continues to resonate with audiences today.

More....