Gretchen Am Spinnrade
Gretchen Am Spinnrade
Franz Schubert composed the German Lieder, Gretchen Am Spinnrade, in 1814. This composition is one of Schubert’s pinnacle compositions, which introduced the world to the idea of the Romantic Lied, veering away from the already existing Classical Lied. Observing the form, rhythmic structure, key modulations and dynamics with relation to the text, Schubert paints a beautiful emotional drama for the listener allowing them to dive into the thoughts and emotions the woman, Gretchen, is experiencing while longing for her lover, Faust.
Gretchen Am Spinnrade is a modified strophic composition in a seven-part rondo form – ABACADA. The A sections could be interpreted as the ‘reality’ that Gretchen is faced with, and how her lover will probably never return as she describes “My peace is gone, my heart is heavy, I’ll find, I’ll find it, never, never more”. The B, C & D sections could be interpreted as her hopes, memories and desires, as these sections tend to dwell on her recollections of her lover, Faust.
For observations on the rhythmic structure, attention must be turned to the piano accompaniment. The sixteenth notes in the right hand can be interpreted as the turning of the spinning wheel, which Gretchen is working at while she shares her emotions and thoughts in the composition. The left hand combination of eight notes and dotted half notes (with other notes thrown in as well) could be interpreted as the pedal of the spinning wheel (HWM, pg. 609 & 611). You could also interpret the right hand sixteenth note sequence as Gretchen’s racing thoughts (HMW, pg. 611) and the left hand as the beating of her heart or the grasp on her emotions. She tends to keep a good grasp on her emotions until m 51 – 68, when only dotted half notes are utilized as she reaches the peak of her reflections on Faust with “and – ah! – His kiss!” She then quickly snaps back into reality by m 69 as the original rhythm of the A section kicks back into play.
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Franz Schubert composed the German Lieder, Gretchen Am Spinnrade, in 1814. This composition is one of Schubert’s pinnacle compositions, which introduced the world to the idea of the Romantic Lied, veering away from the already existing Classical Lied. Observing the form, rhythmic structure, key modulations and dynamics with relation to the text, Schubert paints a beautiful emotional drama for the listener allowing them to dive into the thoughts and emotions the woman, Gretchen, is experiencing while longing for her lover, Faust.
Gretchen Am Spinnrade is a modified strophic composition in a seven-part rondo form – ABACADA. The A sections could be interpreted as the ‘reality’ that Gretchen is faced with, and how her lover will probably never return as she describes “My peace is gone, my heart is heavy, I’ll find, I’ll find it, never, never more”. The B, C & D sections could be interpreted as her hopes, memories and desires, as these sections tend to dwell on her recollections of her lover, Faust.
For observations on the rhythmic structure, attention must be turned to the piano accompaniment. The sixteenth notes in the right hand can be interpreted as the turning of the spinning wheel, which Gretchen is working at while she shares her emotions and thoughts in the composition. The left hand combination of eight notes and dotted half notes (with other notes thrown in as well) could be interpreted as the pedal of the spinning wheel (HWM, pg. 609 & 611). You could also interpret the right hand sixteenth note sequence as Gretchen’s racing thoughts (HMW, pg. 611) and the left hand as the beating of her heart or the grasp on her emotions. She tends to keep a good grasp on her emotions until m 51 – 68, when only dotted half notes are utilized as she reaches the peak of her reflections on Faust with “and – ah! – His kiss!” She then quickly snaps back into reality by m 69 as the original rhythm of the A section kicks back into play.
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