Heine-Lieder : Bergstimme = The Echo (Ein Reiter durch das Bergtal zieht) / Francke

Composer: Francke, Richard
Dates: 1868-?
Song title: Bergstimme = The Echo
Opus, no., etc.: op.39
Music collection title: [Series:] Special-Litteratur für Mason & Hamlin amerik. Harmonium : Lieder und Gesänge (Deutsch-englisch), Plate no.: P.K. 71
Imprint(s): Berlin: Paul Koeppen (c1899 by Breitkopf & Härtel)
Source(s) for score: Hand-copied from Boston Public Library copy [no. 11 in bound volume of sheet music **M.482.714, Brown collection]
1st line of poem: Ein Reiter durch das Bergtal zieht (Go to text)
Source of poem: Buch der Lieder: Junge Leiden: Romanzen, Nr.2
Date of composition: -
Nationality of composer: German
Language(s) of text: German, English
Tempo marking: Sehr ruhig und düster = Very quietly and gloomily
Key: F minor
Time signature: common time
No. of measures: 13 (39 with all three strophes)
Approximate duration: 3 min.
Form: strophic
Vocal range: F to e-flat; in bass clef, designated "Bariton oder Bass"
Vocal tessitura: fairly even distribution in the upper octave; c and F are the only notes at the lower end of the range, and c predominates (Go to chart)
Vocal rhythms: mostly slow-moving quarter, dotted quarter, and eighth notes
Vocal intervals: mostly stepwise motion, with a few ascending thirds and a descending fifth at the end of each stanza
Vocal comments: a solid low F for the final note of each verse is essential; low F's are given as optional notes to the repeated c's of the unaccompanied penultimate phrase
Textual variants, etc.: The English singing translation is uninspired and awkward in places, but adequate
Instrumental part(s): Mason & Hamlin harmonium is specified as the instrument, with registrations given; the accompaniment is almost entirely in very sustained four- or five-voice chords (both hands in bass clef). If a piano is used, some unobtrusive figuration or chord repetition should be introduced.
Summary: A simple, fairly effective setting for low voice, with conventional, late-19th-century harmonies. It is, however, intensely and unrelievedly lugubrious, almost comically so if the harmonium accompanies.