Hunt 1300 – Handout 14

Schubert’s “Trout”: Bridging song and chamber music

Schubert: Die Forelle (“The Trout”), 1817 – Song version (“Lied”)

Kamien: CD #4, Tracks 54-55

Section	Kamien	German text	English translation	Harmony
	54	[Piano introduction]		major
A		In einem Bächlein helle, Da schuss in froher Eil’ Die launische Forelle Vorüber wie en Pfeil. Ich stand an dem Gestade, und sah in süsser Ruh’ Des muntern Fischleins Bade Im klaren Bächlein zu. [Piano Interlude]	In a clear brooklet, with happy haste, a capricious trout darted about like an arrow. I stood on the bank and contentedly watched the merry fish bathe in the clear brooklet.	major
A		Ein Fischer mit der Rute, Wohl an dem Ufer stand, Und sah’s mit kaltem Blute Wie sich das Fischlein wand. So lang dem Wasser helle, So dacht’ ich, nicht gebricht, So fängt er die Forelle Mit seiner Angel nicht. So fängt er die Forelle Mit seiner Angel nicht.	A fisherman with his rod stood on the bank and looked on cold-blooded as the fish wriggled about. So long as the clear water, I thought, is not disturbed, he will not catch the trout with his hook.	major
B	55	Doch endlich ward dem Diebe Die Zeit zu lang. Er macht Das Bächlein tückisch trübe, Und eh’ ich es gedacht; So zuckte seine Rute, Das Fischlein zappelt dran,	But suddenly the thief got tired of waiting. He slyly muddied up the brook, and before I realized it he jerked his rod and the fish struggled on the line,	minor
A’		Und ich mit regem Blute Sah die Betrogne an. Und ich mit regem Blute Sah die Betrogne an. [Piano Postlude.]	and I, wish my pulse beating high, watched the betrayed one.	major

Chamber Music Version: Piano Quintet in A Major “Trout” (1819): 4^th movement

Kamien: CD #4, Tracks 56-62

Schubert uses the main tune from “Die Forelle” and uses it in a Piano Quintet, in a set of theme and variations.

Instruments: Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass; Tempo: Andantino (close to Andante); Meter: Duple; Key: D major; Form: Theme and Variations.

Section	Kamien	Theme in:	Accompaniment	Dynamics	Harmony
Theme	56	Violin	Steady, strings	pp	major
1^st Variation	57	Piano (w/ trills)	Strings: pizzicato bass, moving figures (“swimming” imagery)	p	major
2^nd Variation	58	Viola	Violin up high, Piano echoes	p	major
3^rd variation	59	Bass and cello	Piano runs in high register	mf	major
4^th variation	60	Piano and strings	Agitated chords	ff, p, ff, p; p, >pp	minor
5^th variation	61	Cello, lyrical	Strings + piano in high register	p	major
Transition		Long cello melody, then w/ violin		p
6^th Variation	62	Violin, then Cello, violin, cello, violin, cello (hints at Duet)	Piano, same accompaniment as in the Song version	p, pp	major