The German "Lied"

[klavierelch]

In the German speaking countries art songs have developed in a special way, so that e.g. the French borrowed the word "lied" to distinguish these songs from the typical French chansons.

Of course we all know the big tradition of "Lieder" by Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Loewe, Wolf, Strauss, Pfitzner etc., all of which are more or less easily obtainable through publishers and libraries.

But there of course were also a lot of less famous composers (or composers lesser known for their songs) which contributed to German art song. For example Johann Vesque von Püttlingen aka Johann Hoven wrote a large scale song cycle comprising all 88 poems of Heine's "Heimkehr" from his "Buch der Lieder", which also was the basis for Schumann's famous "Dichterliebe" (Schumann used the "Lyrisches Intermezzo"). That's only one example for songs which deserve to be studied and heared more often.

And there are a lot of minor composer who wrote songs. As a starter to this thread here are two little songs by minor composers which certainly are no forgotten masterworks, but which deserve to be preserved.

The first song is by Matthäus Koch (1862-1933) who mainly wrote church music. It is a very simple song with the piano doubling the melody of the voice.

NMZ 1914 - Koch Vergessen for voice and piano.pdf

The second one is by Iwan Knorr (1853-1916), a pupil of Moscheles and Reinecke and one of the teachers of Pfitzner. This songs is a bit more elaborated.

NMZ 1909 - Knorr op13 No3 Das Mägdlein und der Spatz.pdf

Both songs were published as inlays to the "Neue Musik Zeitung" in the first decades of the 20th century and are not available in print otherwise.

[FW190]

"Ein Ton" is a nice title for a song,
let's hope it is always the right one.

Cornelius.-.op.03-3.-.Lied-'Ein-Ton'-(lv+pno-transposed-English-German).pdf

Cornelius.-.op.03-3.-.Lied-'Ein-Ton'-(lv+pno-English-German).pdf

Cornelius.-.op.03-3.-.Lied-'Ein-Ton'-(hv+pno-English-German).pdf

[near]

Does anyone have any Johann Carl Gottfried Loewe scores? Most likely they would be entitled to Carl Loewe, or Karl Loewe. I haven't seen many of his compositions on "the usual sites".

This is what the Oxford Companion to Music says about him:
"His reputation rests on his many ballads, narrative songs in which his melodic gift, grasp of dramatic effect, and skilful use of motif can sustain interest across lengthy structures. Among the best of these is Erlkönig, a setting that can stand beside Schubert's, as can some of his finest songs."

And yet Rhapsody doesn't have any recordings available!

[kh0815]

NMS, but a very kind gift of another pianophiliac in spring 2008, thanks again to him:

Loewe C op.121,2 Der Drachenfels g-Moll.pdf

[near]

Thank you!

A close friend happened to have the Erlkönig score, and the kindness to send it to me, which I've attached (I'm not too sure what the opus or catalogue number is so I've excluded any from the file name). If anyone happens to have any other Loewe scores, pray upload them.

Carl Loewe Erlkönig.pdf

[klavierelch]

I am somewhat puzzled that Loewe is said to be rare. A lot of his songs are easily available e.g. through Edition Peters and some others.
As to recordings: CPO released more or less his complete songs years ago in 20+ volumes.

[FW190]

[...](I'm not too sure what the opus or catalogue number is so I've excluded any from the file name). [...]

Loewe's Erlkönig: It's his opus 1 No.3 and was composed in 1817-18 and first published in 1821 - original key is g-Minor.

[arglmann]

Thank you!

A close friend happened to have the Erlkönig score, and the kindness to send it to me, which I've attached (I'm not too sure what the opus or catalogue number is so I've excluded any from the file name). If anyone happens to have any other Loewe scores, pray upload them.

Well, of course there is 1 more:
The ballad of Mr. Ed.
Enjoy!
(Sorry, didn't find it in english...)

Arglmann

Moderator Edit
Please name files correctly in future according to the guidelines.
I downloaded your file, renamed it & re-uploaded it!

Loewe op1 no1 Edward (v+pno).pdf

[NidaKaldirim]

Although the songs of Strauss are not so rare, transpositions of the later opuses are difficult to find. Here are some for low voice, specially for Rob!
(New scans)

Strauss 6 Lieder op17 mittel.pdf

Strauss 5 Gedichte op46 tief.pdf

Strauss 5 Lieder op48 tief.pdf

Strauss 6 Lieder op68 No2 Ich wollt ein Sträußlein binden tief Eb.pdf

Strauss 6 Lieder op68 No1 An die Nacht tief Db.pdf

Strauss 6 Lieder op68 No4 Als mir Dein Lied erklang tief D.pdf

Strauss 5 Lieder op39 No4 Befreit tief C#.pdf

Strauss 3 Lieder op31 No2 Wenn tief B.pdf

Strauss Lieder op 46, 47, 48 tief.pdf

[rob]

Although the songs of Strauss are not so rare, transpositions of the later opuses are difficult to find. Here are some for low voice, specially for Rob!
(New scans)

Strauss 6 Lieder op17 mittel.pdf

Strauss 5 Gedichte op46 tief.pdf

Strauss 5 Lieder op48 tief.pdf

Strauss 6 Lieder op68 No2 Ich wollt ein Sträußlein binden tief Eb.pdf

Strauss 6 Lieder op68 No1 An die Nacht tief Db.pdf

Strauss 6 Lieder op68 No4 Als mir Dein Lied erklang tief D.pdf

Strauss 5 Lieder op39 No4 Befreit tief C#.pdf

Strauss 3 Lieder op31 No2 Wenn tief B.pdf

Strauss Lieder op 46, 47, 48 tief.pdf

Thank you so much Nida! I had only seen the op17 earlier, which I looked through and which were too high for me - they need a light lyric baritone rather than my bass. I came back to say thank-you anyway and I was met with a complete treasure trove! Surely some of the 'tief' transpositions will work well.

At my last audition I did one of Strauss's most famous songs - Zueignung - which worked well enough (it's not all that hard, and sympathetically written) and got me through, but without me being able to turn any emotional screws, which I can do with Russian stuff, which suits much better! So any Rachmaninov transcriptions would be EXTREMELY welcome!!! I think they are very rare - in libraries I only ever find the original keys.

Thank you again.