Und wussten's Die Blumen

Question 1

Und wussten’s die Blumen is from which song cycle, by which composer?

Answer 1

Dichterliebe, op. 48, by Robert Schumann

Question 2

What is this song cycle about? Does it have a story?

Answer 2

Without a specific story, the song cycle traces love’s trajectory from hopeful beginnings to bitter end

Question 3

Of what written work is this song cycle inspired, and whom is the author?

Answer 3

Dichterliebe is based on a collection of popular poems by Heinrich Heine called Lyrisches Intermezzo. This is the source of the text.

Question 4

What year was this song cycle composed, and what is the significance of that year for the composer?

Answer 4

This song cycle was composed in 1840, during Schumann’s “year of song”.

Question 5

List the following:
Genre:
Date of Composition:
Language:
Source of text:
English translation of title:
Performing forces:

Answer 5

Song Cycle
1840
German
Lyrisches Intermezzo, a collection of poems by Heinrich Heine
Poet's love
solo voice and piano

Question 6

What is the form of this song?

Answer 6

Modified strophic form

Question 7

Please give a summary of the text

Answer 7

The narrator implores the flowers, nightingales, and stars to comfort him in their own way through their restorative, natural beauty. Then it is concluded that the only one who can truly understand is the one who has caused it.

Question 8

What is the key of this piece?

Answer 8

A minor

Question 9

How many verses are in the poem?

Answer 9

4

Question 10

Is a tempo indicated on the score?

What is the time signature?

Answer 10

No tempo indication

2/4

Question 11

Describe the melody, and how the piano supports the melody

Answer 11

Unfolds in short 2 measure phrases
Opening 2 phrases are based on short descending scale fragments.
The piano supports the melody by frequently tracing the vocal line.

Question 12

What romantic feature is utilized in the harmonic progression?

Answer 12

The first three verses have the same harmonic progression which includes a Brief passing through the Neapolitan key (flattened supertonic) in m4-5

Question 13

How does the piano enhance the connection of the text to the music?

Answer 13

Soft, rustling 32nd notes sound restless and disturbed, like the narrator’s emotions and thoughts through the song

Question 14

Which verse in the song is different from the others? Describe in what ways it changes

Answer 14

The 4th verse
Begins with a major triad, creating a brief harmonic shift
The consistent, forward motion is interrupted by repetition of the word “zerissen” (torn)

Question 15

Describe the postlude

Answer 15

Piano abandons its reserve and creates a tumultuous close
The right hand part features a new triplet sixteenth note figuration over dramatic octaves in the LH
Heightened dissonance
Like the storehouse has burst open and all the suppressed emotions are coming out.