Nacht und Träume
Encyclopedia
Nacht und Träume is a lied
for voice and piano
by Franz Schubert
, published in 1825 off of a text by Matthäus von Collin. In Otto Erich Deutsch
's catalogue of Schubert's works, it is D. 827.
The song, a meditation, as the name suggests, on night and dreams, is marked "Sehr langsam" (very slowly) and is in the key
of B major (with a modulation
to the flattened submediant
, G major, in the middle). There is a single dynamic
indication, "piannissimo" (very quietly), which does not change throughout the song. The piano plays broken chords in semiquavers for the song's duration in a manner similar to bar five (the bar in which the voice enters), for example:
A typical performance will last around three to four minutes.
A version in the Spaun family collection has the different tempo marking "Langsam, Sempre legato" (Slow, Always legato).
The original publication erroneously attributed the text to Friedrich Schiller
.
"Nacht und Träume" is one of several Schubert songs that Max Reger
arranged for voice and orchestra
. The last seven bars of the original version feature in Samuel Beckett
's television play of the same name (see Nacht und Träume (play)
).
Lied
is a German word literally meaning "song", usually used to describe romantic songs setting German poems of reasonably high literary aspirations, especially during the nineteenth century, beginning with Carl Loewe, Heinrich Marschner, and Franz Schubert and culminating with Hugo Wolf...
for voice and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
by Franz Schubert
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
, published in 1825 off of a text by Matthäus von Collin. In Otto Erich Deutsch
Otto Erich Deutsch
Otto Erich Deutsch was an Austrian musicologist. He is known for compiling the first comprehensive catalogue of the works of Franz Schubert, first published in 1951 in English, new edition in 1978 in German...
's catalogue of Schubert's works, it is D. 827.
The song, a meditation, as the name suggests, on night and dreams, is marked "Sehr langsam" (very slowly) and is in the key
Key (music)
In music theory, the term key is used in many different and sometimes contradictory ways. A common use is to speak of music as being "in" a specific key, such as in the key of C major or in the key of F-sharp. Sometimes the terms "major" or "minor" are appended, as in the key of A minor or in the...
of B major (with a modulation
Modulation (music)
In music, modulation is most commonly the act or process of changing from one key to another. This may or may not be accompanied by a change in key signature. Modulations articulate or create the structure or form of many pieces, as well as add interest...
to the flattened submediant
Submediant
In music, the submediant is the sixth scale degree of the diatonic scale, the 'lower mediant' halfway between the tonic and the subdominant or 'lower dominant'...
, G major, in the middle). There is a single dynamic
Dynamics (music)
In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece, either stylistic or functional . The term is also applied to the written or printed musical notation used to indicate dynamics...
indication, "piannissimo" (very quietly), which does not change throughout the song. The piano plays broken chords in semiquavers for the song's duration in a manner similar to bar five (the bar in which the voice enters), for example:
A typical performance will last around three to four minutes.
A version in the Spaun family collection has the different tempo marking "Langsam, Sempre legato" (Slow, Always legato).
The original publication erroneously attributed the text to Friedrich Schiller
Friedrich Schiller
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life , Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe...
.
"Nacht und Träume" is one of several Schubert songs that Max Reger
Max Reger
Johann Baptist Joseph Maximilian Reger was a German composer, conductor, pianist, organist, and academic teacher.-Life:...
arranged for voice and orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
. The last seven bars of the original version feature in Samuel Beckett
Samuel Beckett
Samuel Barclay Beckett was an Irish avant-garde novelist, playwright, theatre director, and poet. He wrote both in English and French. His work offers a bleak, tragicomic outlook on human nature, often coupled with black comedy and gallows humour.Beckett is widely regarded as among the most...
's television play of the same name (see Nacht und Träume (play)
Nacht und Träume (play)
Nacht und Träume is the last television play written and directed by Samuel Beckett. It was written in English for Süddeutscher Rundfunk, recorded in October 1982 and broadcast on 19 May 1983 where it attracted “an audience of two million viewers.” The mime artist Helfrid Foron playing both...
).