Schubert lieder - your favourite books on the subject?

[Karafan]

I bought the entire Hyperion Schubert Song edition as they were released and enjoy both the recordings and, of course, Graham Johnson's fascinating essays (though the small print is getting a little tough on the ageing eyeballs these days!).

I wondered which books on the subject of Schubert song you treasure and wouldn't be without? Recommendations, please!

K.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Karafan: my shelves have accumulated, over some 30 years, Richard Cappell's 1957 Schubert's Songs, the Gollancz 1988 Schubert - The Complete Song Texts with Eng translations by Richard Wigmore, John Reed's 1997 The Complete Schubert Song Companion, and DFD's 1984 Schubert Songs - A Biographical Study. Plus a little BBC Music Guide study by Maurice J E Brown.

Capell is quite short, 258 pages of text in my paperback edition. He mentions most if not all of the songs - his format is chronological, though I expect Schubert scholarship has upset a few of his dates since 1957. He gives views on what he thinks is good and bad, and gives much longer treatment to his own favourites, which - not surprisingly - usually include everyone else's favourites. But he will speak up for some less well-known songs. I have sometimes found myself disagreeing with his assessments - usually when he dismisses a less well-known song - but let's face it, it's now so much easier to hear the songs and he was probably judging from the page or amateur performance on many. I'd still say he's a brilliant and stimulating guide.

The usefulness of the Gollancz is obvious, and may suit your eyes than the Hyperion booklets! But aren't these supposed to be coming out in book form, or maybe they already have? If so, I really ought to buy them...

Reed lists all the songs in alphabetical order with the first few bars, a prose translation, the original key(s), mentions of editions (eg where to find it in the Peters edition), and a few (interesting) notes on details of the poem and the setting.

The DF-D I confess I've not read properly, but it seems packed with detail around each poem and setting, tied into S's biography as the title indicates. I ought to give it a better read, tho' some of my reluctance may be due to my own - regretted - difficulties with DF-D's voice and interpretative style!

[amateur51]

I've just treated myself to Richard Stokes' The Book of Lieder: Texts of over 1,000 Songs beacuse I found that so many song CDs don't have texts. I shall certainly follow-up some of LMP's recommendations

[Karafan]

Yes, my thanks too LMP.

I have seen the John Reed's The complete Schubert song companion recommended before so I think I will look into that - though with a book that is going to get some *serious* use I usually try to obtain a hardback copy as, with a softback, the spine and contents always seem to want to take leave of one another within about a year! Pricey in HB but probably worth it, I am thinking....

K.

[gurnemanz]

LMP has covered the ground very effectively. I keep going back to see what Capell has to say. My copy bought new in 1973 for 95p is now literally falling to bits.
Reed is very usable with the interesting appendices mentioned above. It would have been great to include the original German as well but I suppose this would have made the book too huge - it is 500 pages even without them.
Graham Johnson's detailed notes are available online from Hyperion. If they brought a book out I would buy it.
I have the D F-D book in German and have also not read it from cover to cover or actually used it as much as the others.

[Karafan]

I keep going back to see what Capell has to say. My copy bought new in 1973 for 95p is now literally falling to bits.

I have bought the Capell for £3.70 in hardback (no idea that it dated back to the 1920s!) - you couldn't buy a copy of IRR for that. Thanks for the heads-up chaps!

By the way, Gurnemanz, there are a few other HB copies of Capell to be had cheaply on eBay or ABE so if you feel the need to replace your collapsed copy...!

[Mary Chambers]

I've just treated myself to Richard Stokes' The Book of Lieder: Texts of over 1,000 Songs

I have that one, and refer to it constantly.

[Karafan]

On a slightly side issue, have I imagined that there is an online (downloadable pdf?) alphabetical index to the song titles in the Hyperion Schubert song edition? I have checked out Hyperion's website and cannot see it...?

Thanks

[Stunsworth]

On a slightly side issue, have I imagined that there is an online (downloadable pdf?) alphabetical index to the song titles in the Hyperion Schubert song edition? I have checked out Hyperion's website and cannot see it...?

You can find it here...

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDS44201/40&vw=dc

Click on 'view sleeve notes/artwork'.

[Karafan]

You can find it here...

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDS44201/40&vw=dc

Click on 'view sleeve notes/artwork'.

Steve: you should be dipped in bronze!

many thanks for your help!

[John Shelton]

I missed this - if anyone is interested in my reply , Susan Youens's books are good (or the two I know are)

Schubert's Poets and the Making of Lieder (Cambridge University Press) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schuberts-Po...3841118&sr=1-5

and

Retracing a Winter's Journey: Schubert's "Winterreise" (Cornell University Press) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Retracing-Wi...3841118&sr=1-3

[Karafan]

My (very!) belated thanks, John.

Incidentally, I wonder if anyone has invested in Graham Johnson's hefty 3 volume set (published by Yale) "Franz Schubert: the complete songs"? Based on his extensive essays for the Hyperion Schubert edition it has been expanded and re-written.

The price is pretty eye-watering, but indepth reviews seem in short supply. http://yalebooks.co.uk/display.asp?k=9780300112672

Any views would be welcomed.

[vinteuil]

.

http://amzn.eu/a9k1NL2

... possibly cheaper through abebooks -

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=21696931381&searchurl=sts%3Dt%26tn%3Dschubert%26sortby%3D17%26an%3Djohnson%2B

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Alternatively - if you're quick and buy before Thursday night:

http://www.europadisc.co.uk/classical/27614/Schubert_-_The_Complete_Songs.htm

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

... although that price new is the permanent lowest asking price on Amazon - and Used costs even less.

Hmmm --- somebody please remind me that I'm still enjoying the Mozza box tremendously, and there aren't enough hours in the day to appreciate another mega-composer box!