Composer

:

Franz Liszt

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1870 - 1871

Publication Date

:

1879

Average_duration

:

4:56

"Die Fischertochter" (The Fisher Maiden) is a song composed by Franz Liszt in 1860. It was premiered in Weimar on December 2, 1860, with the composer himself at the piano and the singer Johanna Jachmann-Wagner. The song is part of a collection of six songs called "Lieder aus Schillers Wilhelm Tell" (Songs from Schiller's William Tell), which Liszt composed between 1857 and 1860. The collection is based on Friedrich Schiller's play "William Tell," which tells the story of the Swiss hero who defies the Austrian oppressors. "Die Fischertochter" is the fourth song of the collection and is based on a scene in which the fisherman's daughter, Berta, sings a song about her love for the Swiss mountains. The song is in A-flat major and has a simple and lyrical melody that reflects the innocence and purity of Berta's character. The piano accompaniment is also simple and delicate, with arpeggios and broken chords that evoke the sound of the waves. The song has two stanzas, each with four lines, and a refrain that is repeated after each stanza. The text is in German and was written by Schiller himself. It describes Berta's longing for the mountains and her love for the fisherman's son, who is also a patriot fighting for Swiss independence. The first stanza begins with the words "Ich liebe dich, so wie die Bergesluft," which means "I love you like the mountain air." The second stanza begins with "Ich liebe dich, so wie des Stromes Flut," which means "I love you like the river's flood." The refrain is "O Heimat, Heimat, wie bist du so schön," which means "Oh homeland, homeland, how beautiful you are." Overall, "Die Fischertochter" is a simple and charming song that captures the spirit of Schiller's play and the romanticism of the Swiss landscape. It is a testament to Liszt's ability to create beautiful melodies and to his love for German literature and culture.

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