An Die Musik - Set by Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

In the Romantic era, no composer achieved more recognition in terms of the lied than Franz Schubert. Known for his exceptional gift at creating melodies, Schubert became the king of the romantic lied. Schubert composed over 600 lieder, as well as making important contributions to the piano, chamber and symphonic repertoires.

An Die Musik is perhaps the greatest personification of the feeling that most of us musicians have experienced but not necessarily tried to put into words. The song is a simple dedication to music itself. Whereas most romantic music centered around love, nature, or death, An Die Musik is a simple “thank you” to music itself for being a reprieve from the hardships of life. Poetically, Schubert’s tombstone reads “Music has here buried a rich treasure but still fairer hopes.”

Hanning, B. R. (2010). Concise history of western music: Based on J. Peter Burkholder, Donald J. Grout, and Claude V. Palisca, a history of Western music, Eighth Edition. Norton. Page 412-413

Hanning, B. R. (2010). Concise history of western music: Based on J. Peter Burkholder, Donald J. Grout, and Claude V. Palisca, a history of Western music, Eighth Edition. Norton. Page 414