Programme Notes

Richard Strauss (1864-1949) aus Acht Gedichte aus Letzte Blätter, Op. 10 (Hermann von Gilm)

Allerseelen

Richard Strauss (1864–1949) was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern
period. He is known several operas, lieder, tone poems, and other instrumental works. Like his
contemporary Gustav Mahler he both followed and greatly extended the type of musical expression
founded by composers such as Richard Wagner where highly charged music was performed by
enormous orchestras. Inspired initially by Berlioz and Brahms, his first compositions were more classical
in nature, before he moved in the direction of the more uninhibited romanticism of Liszt and Wagner. By
his early twenties Richard had composed a considerable amount of music, but it was with his first "Tone
Poem" Don Juan in 1889 that his career was to take an upward turn. Some of his works were to cause
controversy such as the notorious opera "Salome" but Strauss was known for participating in many
heated debates with his critics which seemed only to increase his legendary status.

The poet, Herman Von Gilm zu Rosenegg (1812-1864) was an Austrian civil servant who wrote religious
polemics and lyrical poetry as avocations. “Allerseelen" is the last of eight songs that make up Richard
Strauss' Opus 10, Acht Gedichte aus "Letzte Blätter" [Eight Songs from Last Leaves] which he composed
in 1885 at the age of 21. Allerseelen [All Soul’s Day] is November 2, a day when memories of the dead
are revived, and here a lover uses the mood of that day to try and relive and old love affair, tenderly
wishing for things to be as they once were (Walters, 2004).

Allerseelen All Souls’ Day

Stell’ auf den Tisch die duftenden Reseden, Put on the table the fragrant mignonettes,
Die letzten roten Astern trag herbei, carry the last red asters here,
Und lass uns wieder von der Liebe reden, and let us again talk of love
Wie einst im Mai. like once in May.

Gib mir die Hand, dass ich sie heimlich drücke Give me your hand, that I secretly press it,
Und wenn man's sieht, mir ist es einerlei, and if anyone sees it, it makes no difference to me,
Gib mir nur einen deiner süßen Blicke, give me only on your sweet glances
Wie einst im Mai. like once in May.

Es blüht und duftet heut’ auf jedem Grabe, Today is blossoms and smells sweet on each grave
Ein Tag im Jare ist JA den Toten frei, one day in the year indeed the dead are free,
Komm an mein Herz, dass ich dich wieder habe, come to my heart, that I have you again,
Wie einst im Mai. like once in May.

Franz Schubert (1797-1828) Ellens Gesang III, D.839, Op.52, No. 6, 1825 (Sir Walter Scott)

Ellen’s Third Song/ Ave Maria

Franz Peter Schubert was one of the finest musical composers and piano players of the
nineteenth century. He was an Austrian composer who bridged the worlds of classical and
romantic music. His music, subjectively emotional in the romantic manner, poetically conceived,
and revolutionary in language, was routed in the molds of the Classical school (Brown, 2016).
He composed over 600 songs, also composing for symphonies, string quartets, chamber music,
short piano pieces and sonatas and operas. Two of his great works includes, “Unfinished
Symphony” and the “Great C Major Symphony”.

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) was a Scottish novelist, poet, historian and biographer who was
considered to be the creator and greatest practitioner of the historical novel. His interest in
English and Continental literatures, particularly medieval and Renaissance chivalric romances,
German romantic poetry and fiction, and the narrative folk poems influenced most of his
prominent publications such as, the Lay of the Last Minstrel (1805), Marmion (1808), and The
Lady of the Lake (1810). The Lady of the Lake poem specifically, concerns the struggle
between King James V and the powerful clan Douglas. The character Ellen Douglas, the Lady
of the Lake has gone with her exiled father to stay in the Goblin's cave as he has refused to join
their previous host, Roderick Dhu, in rebellion against King James. Roderick Dhu, the chieftain
of Clan Alpine, sets off up the mountain with his warriors, but lingers and hears the distant
sound of the harpist Allan-bane, accompanying Ellen who sings a prayer addressed to the Virgin
Mary, calling upon her for help. This prayer is the “Ave Maria”, in which Ellen is asking for
forgiveness of her father’s sin as she kneels down before an image of the Virgin Mary set up on
the rocky hill by the lake (Naituta, 2008).
 Ave Maria

Ave Maria! Jungfrau mild, Hail Mary ! Maiden mild !

Erhöre einer Jungfrau Flehen, Listen to a maiden’s prayer
Aus diesem Felsen starr und wild Thou canst hear though from the wild
Soll mein Gebet zu dir hinwehen. Thou canst save amidst despair
Wir schlafen sicher bis zum Morgen, Safe may we sleep from beneath thy care
Ob Menschen noch so grausam sind. Though, banished, outcast and reviled
O Jungfrau, sieh der Jungfrau Sorgen, Maiden, hear a maiden’s prayer !
O Mutter, hör ein bittend Kind! Mother, Hear a suppliant child !
Ave Maria! Hail Mary !
 
Ave Maria! Unbefleckt! Hail Mary ! Undefiled !
Wenn wir auf diesen Fels hinsinken The flinty couch we must now share,
Zum Schlaf, und uns dein Schutz bedeck Shall seem with down of eider piled,
Wird weich der harte Fels uns dünken. If thy protection hover hear,
Du lächelst, Rosendüfte wehen The murky cavern’s heavy air
In dieser dumpfen Felsenkluft, Shall breathe of balm if thou hast smiled
O Mutter, höre Kindes Flehen, Then, Maiden, hear a maiden’s prayer !
O Jungfrau, eine Jungfrau ruft! Mother, list a suppliant child !
Ave Maria! Hail Mary !
 References

"Sir Walter Scott." Encyclopedia of World Biography. . Retrieved October 12, 2017 from
Encyclopedia.com:
http://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/sir-walter-scott

Brown, Maurice (2016). Franz Schubert. Encylopedia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved from
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Franz-Schubert on October 12th, 2017.

Edinburgh University library (2011). Walter Scott. Retrieved from

http://www.walterscott.lib.ed.ac.uk/works/poetry/lady.html on October 12th, 2017.

Naituta (2008). Ave Maria : Franz Schubert (1797-1828). Retrieved from

http://music-programnotes.blogspot.com/2008/10/ave-maria-franz-schubert-1797-1828.html on October
12th, 2017.

Palantine Convert Band (2015). Alleerselen. Retrieved from

http://palatineconcertband.org/program-notes/a/allerseelen.html on October 12th, 2017.

Walters, Richard (2004). Standard Vocal Literature : Tenor. Hal.Leonard