A companion to Schubert's Schwanengesang : history, poets, analysis, performance /

Schwanengesang ("Swan Song") is the name given by a Viennese publisher to Franz Schubert's last 14 songs (of more than 600), composed from August to October in 1828. Since Schubert created and perfected the art song, and since he has never been surpassed, these works have taken a special place in the repertory. Singers regularly perform them, either individually or as a set, and more than 50 recordings of them are available. It is good therefore to have this book of commentary, even if its tone and content do not fit the avuncular connotation of the title word "companion." The book is really a companion to Chusid's recent edition of the Schwanengesang manuscript and first edition. As such it offers insightful discussions of the work's history, text-music relationship, and performance practice. Though beginning music students and general readers will find Maurice J.E. Brown's Schubert Songs (1969) or Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau's Schubert: A Biographical Study of His Songs (Eng. tr., CH, Nov'77) more companionable than the present volume, upper-division undergraduate music majors, graduate students, and music professionals should benefit from the in-depth discussions of these songs' musical and literary qualities. M. Meckna; Texas Christian University