Franz Schubert: Gesang der Geister D 714: Männerchor mit Ensemble

This work is based on a poem by Goethe, written on his second trip to Switzerland. Inspired by the 300-meter-high Staubbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen Valley, Goethe is here describing the human soul and its transience using the water image. Schubert repeatedly revised his musical setting; so, from an original piano lied arose a piece for male quartet (ChB 4865) – initially a cappella, then with piano –, and finally today’s best-known version for male octet, with low strings.