Unlocking Meaning in Art Song: A Singer’s Guide to Practical Analysis Using Schubert Songs
Ebook
Overview
The first part of the book introduces important practical skills for analyzing the text as well as key musical elements including melody, rhythm, structure, linear motion, and harmony. The remainder of the book presents an in-depth guided analysis of twenty Schubert songs. The questions and prompts in these chapters allow students, singers, and other readers to discover for themselves the amazing ways in which music and expressive meaning are structured. Songs range from simpler analytical difficulty (such as An die Musik) to medium difficulty (such as Gretchen am Spinnrade), and finally to more complex (such as Erlkönig).
The techniques presented in this book can be applied to all types of songs, allowing singers to build critical skills and artful consciousness. This is an ideal resource for song literature courses, voice teachers, students, collaborative pianists, and theory faculty.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART ONE: INTRODUCTION AND BASIC SKILLS
Introduction: How to use this book
1) How to Analyze the Text of Your Song
What is the Poem About?
Performing a Song with a Refrain
Poetic Structure
Poetic Meter
Rhyme Scheme
Word Sounds
Themes of German Romanticism
Chapter Summary
2) What to Look for in the Musical Setting: Structure, Melody, and Rhythm
Mood
The Piano Part
Form
Phrasing
Melody
Motive
Mid-Chapter Summary
Tempo
Meter and Rhythm
Meter
Upbeat versus Downbeat Phrase Beginnings
Rhythm
Accents
Texture
Dynamics
Chapter Summary
3) What to Look for in the Musical Setting: Tonal Structure, Linear Motion, and Harmony
Tonal Structure (Cadence Levels)
Cadence Mapping
Tonal Withholding
Choice of Key
Linear Motion and Motivic Parallelism
Pedal Points
Harmony
Roman Numeral Analysis
Tonicization and Modulation
Augmented and Neapolitan Sixth Chords
Enharmonic Shift
Sudden Shift to a New Key
Third Relationships and Chromatic Mediants
Oscillation and Circling
Chapter Summary
PART TWO: SIMPLER SONGS TO ANALYZE
4) Heidenröslein
5) An die Musik
6) Die Forelle
7) Gute Nacht
PART THREE: SONGS OF MEDIUM DIFFICULTY TO ANALYZE
8) Der Neugierige
9) Der Tod und das Mädchen
10) An die Nachtigall
11) Ave Maria
12) Du liebst mich nicht
13) Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt
14) Du bist die Ruh
15) Frühlingstraum
16) Gretchen am Spinnrade
PART FOUR: MORE COMPLEX SONGS TO ANALYZE
17) Erster Verlust
18) Meeres Stille
19) Die junge Nonne
20) Die Liebe hat gelogen
21) Ganymed
22) Dass sie hier gewesen
23) Erlkönig
APPENDIX
•Template for song analysis (long and short versions)
•Bibliography
•Glossary
Unlocking Meaning in Art Song is an invaluable guide that will lead singers, collaborative pianists, and teachers to a deeper understanding of the genius and beauty that is art song. Teachers will find that Stein’s text is easily adapted to young singers’ first foray into the discovery of art song, and it will also challenge university students in crafting research projects of their own. From basic elements of poetry to complex harmonic analysis, Stein takes us by the hand to experience ever-deeper levels of craftsmanship and artistry in art song.
I’m thrilled to discover Beverly Stein’s book. I’.ve had teachers discuss things like this my entire career, and I’ve talked them over with my students for decades. But, for the first time, there is a ‘how to’ book with step-by-step instructions for thinking about harmony, alliteration, texture, and a hundred other things in crafting a compelling performance. The author uses familiar components of familiar songs to make her points with great success
- Title: Unlocking Meaning in Art Song: A Singer’s Guide to Practical Analysis Using Schubert Songs
- Author: Beverly Stein
- Series: National Association of Teachers of Singing Books
- Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
- Print Publication Date: 2024
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Pages: 340
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781538187883, 9781538187869, 1538187868, 1538187884
- Resource ID: LLS:9781538187883
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-04-22T03:11:31Z
Beverly Stein is a professor of music history and analysis at California State University, Los Angeles. Stein has presented at the NATS Cal-Western Regional meetings and taught California State University Summer Arts program’s “The Romantic Lied in Germany.” She has been recognized for her engaging teaching style with an award by the General Education Honors Program.