German tenor and conductor Peter Schreier sings Franz Schubert’s Ständchen (Serenade), a beautiful love song for voice and piano. Piano: Rudolf Buchbinder. Recorded at the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna.
Franz Schubert’s Ständchen [Serenade]
Franz Schubert’s Ständchen (known in English as “Hark, hark, the lark”), D. 889, is a beautiful lied for solo voice and piano, composed in July 1826. Based on a text from Act 2, Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, Ständchen showcases Schubert’s sensitivity to text and his talent for translating words into music. Schubert wrote the piece in Währing, a village that is now a part of Vienna, where he spent time in the company of friends and fellow artists. The song was published posthumously in 1830 by Anton Diabelli, and it has since become one of Schubert’s most cherished works. Though it is relatively short, the song’s charm and simplicity make it unforgettable.
In Cymbeline, Shakespeare’s “Song” appears as an aubade, or morning serenade, welcoming the day with gentle optimism. Schubert’s German title, Ständchen, is often translated as “Serenade,” yet it lacks a specific time reference. This led some scholars to argue that the piece is better described as an “aubade” rather than a serenade meant for the evening. However, the exact time of day is less important than the song’s mood, which is light, airy, and imbued with a sense of awakening. The melody flows with a purity that reflects the dawn’s calm, while the piano accompaniment evokes a quiet, refreshing morning ambiance.
Schubert’s musical setting for Ständchen slightly deviates from the German translation attributed to August Wilhelm Schlegel, although the exact source of the text remains unclear. Early publications of Cymbeline in Vienna in the 1820s suggest that Schubert may have used a version by Abraham Voß, who translated Shakespeare’s works into German, often jointly credited with Schlegel and Johann Joachim Eschenburg. Despite these variations in translation, Schubert’s musical vision remains faithful to the poem’s essence, with a lyrical melody that captures the poem’s warmth and simplicity.
A popular story about the creation of Ständchen recounts that Schubert was walking back to Vienna with friends in the summer of 1826 when they stopped at an inn. Schubert supposedly noticed a poem in his friend’s book and, inspired, jotted down the melody on the back of a menu in the lively atmosphere of a Sunday garden.
Although this anecdote may be more legend than fact, it highlights the spontaneous genius associated with Schubert’s composition style. This tale, shared by one of Schubert’s friends, conveys the impression that inspiration could strike him anywhere, regardless of his surroundings. The real events may have taken place at a friend’s home rather than an inn, but the story endures as a testament to the magical way Schubert could bring poetry to life.
The Ständchen manuscript has survived in Schubert’s hand, preserved in the Wienbibliothek im Rathaus, Vienna. This original version, written in the key of C major, is one of four lieder Schubert recorded in a small manuscript notebook. Schubert’s talent shines in Ständchen, where he combines a simple yet elegant melody with a supportive, unobtrusive piano accompaniment. The piano imitates the morning calm, creating a soft bed of sound over which the voice floats effortlessly. As the song progresses, Schubert uses dynamic variations and phrasing to evoke an atmosphere that feels both intimate and expansive.
The charm of Ständchen lies in its balance between simplicity and expressiveness. Though short, the song’s impact is lasting, as it captures a moment of serenity that resonates deeply with listeners. The piece has been arranged and transcribed for various instruments, including a famous piano version by Franz Liszt, allowing audiences to experience it in multiple forms. Liszt’s transcription, titled Morgenständchen or “Morning Serenade,” further emphasizes the song’s morning mood, aligning it more closely with an aubade than an evening serenade.
Schubert’s Ständchen remains a beloved song, frequently performed by vocalists for its accessibility and emotive power. It has become emblematic of Schubert’s ability to transform poetry into music that feels universal, transcending language and time. The song’s delicate beauty, coupled with the poetic inspiration of Shakespeare, makes it a small yet profound masterpiece within Schubert’s extensive catalog of lieder. Today, Ständchen is celebrated not only for its historical significance but also for its capacity to evoke a tranquil, timeless moment, inviting listeners into Schubert’s intimate musical world.
Other versions of Schubert’s Ständchen [Serenade]
Here is another version of the song played on the cello and piano. Performers: Camille Thomas (cello) and Beatrice Berrut (piano). Recorded live at Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels on June 5, 2011.
And another version, performed by Itzhak Perlman (violin) and Rohan de Silva (piano).
An orchestral version:
Schubert: Ständchen (Serenade) Lyrics
German: Ständchen
Leise flehen meine Lieder
Durch die Nacht zu dir;
In den stillen Hain hernieder,
Liebchen, komm zu mir!
Flüsternd schlanke Wipfel rauschen
In des Mondes LichtDes Verräters feindlich Lauschen
Fürchte, Holde, nicht.
Hörst die Nachtigallen schlagen?
Ach! sie flehen dich,
Mit der Töne süßen Klagen
Flehen sie für mich.
Sie verstehn des Busens Sehnen,
Kennen Liebesschmerz,
Rühren mit den Silbertönen
Jedes weiche Herz.
Laß auch dir die Brust bewegen,
Liebchen, höre mich!
Bebend harr’ ich dir entgegen!
Komm, beglücke mich!
English: Serenade
My songs beckon softly
through the night to you;
below in the quiet grove,
Come to me, beloved!
The rustle of slender leaf tips
whispers in the moonlight;
Do not fear the evil spying
of the betrayer, my dear.
Do you hear the nightingale call?
Ah, they beckon to you,
With the sweet sound of their singing
they beckon to you for me.
They understand the heart’s longing,
know the pain of love,
They calm each tender heart
with their silver tones.
Let them also stir within your breast,
beloved, hear me!
Trembling I wait for you,
Come, please me!
Sources
- Ständchen, D 889 (Schubert) on Wikipedia
- Ständchen, D.889 (Schubert, Franz) on the International Music Score Library Project website
- “A Full Insight into Franz Schubert’s Serenade: Things to Know” on the Our Music World website
