"Prometheus", D. 674, is an intensely dramatic

art song An art song is a Western vocal music composition, usually written for one voice with piano accompaniment, and usually in the classical art music tradition. By extension, the term "art song" is used to refer to the collective genre of such songs ...

composed by Franz Schubert in October

1819 Events January–March * January 2 – The Panic of 1819, the first major peacetime financial crisis in the United States, begins. * January 25 – Thomas Jefferson founds the University of Virginia. * January 29 – Si ...

to a poem of the same name by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Music

The ' was written for

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

voice in the

key Key or The Key may refer to: Common meanings * Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm * Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock * Key (map ...

B major B major (or the key of B) is a major scale based on B. The pitches B, C, D, E, F, G, and A are all part of the B major scale. Its key signature has five sharps. Its relative minor is G-sharp minor, its parallel minor is B minor, and its ...

, but the key moves repeatedly through various major to minor tonalities, ending in

C major C major (or the key of C) is a major scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. C major is one of the most common keys used in music. Its key signature has no flats or sharps. Its relative minor is A minor and ...

. Goethe's dramatic declamation by Prometheus would be set again, with very different effect, by

Hugo Wolf Hugo Philipp Jacob Wolf (13 March 1860 – 22 February 1903) was an Austrian composer of Slovene origin, particularly noted for his art songs, or Lieder. He brought to this form a concentrated expressive intensity which was unique in late Ro ...

, "with his alternations of ariosos and recitatives, Schubert created a miniature oratorio", observes Edward F. Kravitt. Among many other ' by Schubert,

Max Reger Johann Baptist Joseph Maximilian Reger (19 March 187311 May 1916) was a German composer, pianist, organist, conductor, and academic teacher. He worked as a concert pianist, as a musical director at the Paulinerkirche, Leipzig, Leipzig University ...

also created an

orchestration Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra (or, more loosely, for any musical ensemble, such as a concert band) or of adapting music composed for another medium for an orchestra. Also called "instrumentation", orc ...

for "Prometheus".

Recordings

;Voice and piano :''Schubert: Goethe-Lieder'', Thomas Quasthoff (

bass-baritone A bass-baritone is a high-lying bass or low-lying "classical" baritone voice type which shares certain qualities with the true baritone voice. The term arose in the late 19th century to describe the particular type of voice required to sing thr ...

), Charles Spencer (piano), RCA Records, 1995 :''Schubert: Goethe-Lieder'', Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (

baritone A baritone is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the bass and the tenor voice-types. The term originates from the Greek (), meaning "heavy sounding". Composers typically write music for this voice in the r ...

), Jörg Demus (piano), Deutsche Grammophon, 1999 :''Schubert: Goethe-Lieder'', Vol. 1, Ulf Bästlein (bass-baritone), Stefan Laux (piano),

Naxos Records Naxos comprises numerous companies, divisions, imprints, and labels specializing in classical music but also audiobooks and other genres. The premier label is Naxos Records which focuses on classical music. Naxos Musical Group encompasses about 1 ...

, 2000 ;Voice and orchestra (Max Reger) :''Schubert arranged by Reger: Songs'', Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, Dennis Russell Davies (

conductor Conductor or conduction may refer to: Music * Conductor (music), a person who leads a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra. * ''Conductor'' (album), an album by indie rock band The Comas * Conduction, a type of structured free improvisation ...

Dietrich Henschel Dietrich Henschel (born 1967) is a German baritone. Life and career Born in Berlin, Henschel grew up in Nürnberg where he attended high school and studied piano and conducting. He studied voice at the and made his stage debut at the 1990 Munich ...

(baritone), MD&G Records, 1998 :''Schubert arr. Reger: Orchestral Songs'',

Klaus Mertens Klaus Mertens (born 25 March 1949, in Kleve) is a German bass and bass-baritone singer who is known especially for his interpretation of the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach for bass voice. Career Klaus Mertens took singing lessons ...

(baritone), Camilla Nylund (

soprano A soprano () is a type of classical female singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hz to "high A" (A5) = 880&n ...

NDR Radiophilharmonie The NDR Radiophilharmonie is a German radio orchestra, affiliated with the Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) in Hanover, the capital of Lower Saxony. The orchestra principally gives concerts in the ''Großer Sendesaal'' of the ''Landesfunkhaus Niedersa ...

Hannover, Werner Andreas Albert (conductor), cpo Records, 1998 :''Schubert: Lieder With Orchestra'', Thomas Quasthoff (bass-baritone), Anne Sofie von Otter (

mezzo-soprano A mezzo-soprano or mezzo (; ; meaning "half soprano") is a type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range lies between the soprano and the contralto voice types. The mezzo-soprano's vocal range usually extends from the A below middle C ...

Chamber Orchestra of Europe The Chamber Orchestra of Europe (COE), established in 1981, is an orchestra based in London. The orchestra comprises about 60 members from across Europe. The players pursue parallel careers as international soloists, members of chamber groups and ...

, Claudio Abbado (conductor), Deutsche Grammophon, 2003

References

External links

* *, Matthias Goerne (baritone),

Andreas Haefliger Andreas Haefliger (born September 11, 1962) is a German-born Switzerland, Swiss pianist. Early life and education Born in Berlin on September 11, 1962, Haefliger is the youngest son of famed tenor Ernst Haefliger and interior designer and archit ...

(piano) *, Thomas Quasthoff,

, Claudio Abbado
"Rhetoric, form, and sovereignty in Schubert’s 'Prometheus' D. 674"
thesis by Erica Brady Angert to Louisiana State University (57 pages, 515 KB)
"Prometheus" – Art song by Schubert, Franz D. 674
orchestration by Carl Nielsen {{Authority control Musical settings of poems by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1819 songs Lieder composed by Franz Schubert