Heine-Lieder : Die Bergstimme (Ein Reiter durch das Bergtal zieht) / Kücken

Composer: Kücken, Friedrich Wilhelm
Dates: 1810-1882
Song title: Die Bergstimme : Romanze von H. Heine
Opus, no., etc.: op.3, Nr.2 [op. 9, Nr. 1?]
Music collection title: Zwei Balladen für Baß und Klavier
Imprint(s): Rühle
Source(s) for score: Lieder und Gesänge für eine Singstimme mit Beglietung des Pianoforte -- Hamburg : bei G. W. Niemeyer [n.d.] Plate no. 134 [listed on cover as op. 9, no. 1] [at Boston Public Library in Kücken Lieder v.1 (**M.244.6 v.1)]; Lieder u. Gesänge für eine Singstimme mit Begleitung des Piano -- Neue Ausgabe ; Ausgabe für Alt o. Bass -- Hamburg : Verlag von G. W. Niemeyer, [n.d.] Plate no. 761 [listed on cover as op. 3, no. 2] [at Boston Public Library in Lieder: Kücken, Tiehsen, Lachner (**M.221.25)]
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
Tempo marking: Con moto
Key: F minor
Time signature: 12/8
No. of measures: 81
Approximate duration: 2 min., 45 sec.
Form: through-composed
Vocal range: F to e' [f to e"]
Vocal tessitura: lower middle (Go to chart)
Vocal rhythms: quite variable; faster moving quarter/eighth patterns appear occasionally between the dotted quarters, dotted halves and many longer-held combinations
Vocal intervals: roughly even division between seconds and wider intervals, the latter mostly thirds, fourths and fifths, spiced with a few of the augmented and diminished varieties
Vocal comments: any singer with a good low "A" and a flair for the dramatic could do this song justice, but it was composed for bass voice, and it would be most effective sung by one; needs a singer who can "color" his or her voice to portray the narrator, the rider, and the "Bergstimme"; last note has optional higher "A" instead of low "F"
Textual variants, etc.: Some minor adjustments and repetitions: 1st stanza has"Bergstimme" instead of "Bergstimm;" 2nd stanza repeats "und seufzet;" third stanza adds "bleich und" between "Wange" and "kummervoll," and shortens "Ruhe" to Ruh'."
Instrumental part(s): piano part is very reminiscent of Schubert's "Erlkönig" with its fast triplets in the right hand and galloping motive in the left hand; although it shares some of the same difficulties with Schubert's song, it seems to "lie under the hand" a bit more gratefully
Summary: A tour de force for both voice and piano. Although it is very obviously derivative of Schubert's "Erlkönig" with its propulsive right-hand triplets, left-hand galloping motive, character differentiation in the vocal part, and even some similar modulatory "tricks", this is a rousing and dramatically effective setting of Heine's ballad, albeit certainly not on the same level as Schubert's masterpiece. It would make an excellent concert closer, or an encore.