Look Who it Was Random video

Hans Seeling: Auf geheimem Waldespfade, Op.11 No.3

1,125 views · Published 7 June 2015 · 2:55 · Indexed 6 November 2026

Channel: PSearPianist · 2015 · Music

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Phillip Sear plays a haunting 'reed song' by the Czech composer Hans Seeling (1828-62).
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[By a secret forest path], #3 from '5 Schilflieder (Songs of the reeds) nach Gedichten von Nikolaus Lenau', Op.11
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The short-lived Czech composer Hans Seeling was born and studied in Prague, and settled there as a teacher after touring Europe (he was playing in Paris as late as 1861).  Stylistically his music is quite Germanic, lying somewhere between Reinecke and Henselt.  He actually wrote little, given his short life, and he is best known for his study 'Lorelei'Op. 2, and for set of difficult concert studies, Op. 10.  The young Wilhelm Backhaus recorded one of them, and they are excellent pieces.  The problem with playing anything by Seeling is the requirement for a large stretch between the individual fingers of the hands.  Josef Hofmann recommended his studies as a preparation for those of Chopin - but Hofmann, who had small hands, also had the luxury of a piano made especially for him with narrow keys!

This piece comes from a set of five pieces inspired by Lenau's 1832 'Schilflieder' (Reed Poems).  Here is the poem that inspired it (and is printed in the score), together with an English translation, by Walter Aue from http://myweb.dal.ca/waue/Trans/Lenau-Schilf.html:

Auf geheimem Waldespfade
Schleich ich gern im Abendschein[20]
An das öde Schilfgestade,
Mädchen, und gedenke dein!

Wenn sich dann der Busch verdüstert,
Rauscht das Rohr geheimnisvoll,
Und es klaget, und es flüstert,
Daß ich weinen, weinen soll.

Und ich mein', ich höre wehen
Leise deiner Stimme Klang
Und im Weiher untergehen
Deinen lieblichen Gesang
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Hidden trails through forest's secrets
I shall walk in evening's hue
to the pond's deserted reed-beds,
Maiden, and shall think of you!

When the bushes start to darken,
magic sounds from reeds I hear
whispering and moaning: harken,
shed a tear, oh, shed a tear!

Seems I hear the breezes mating
softly with your voice so free
and in gentle waves abating
your enchanting melody. 

Thumbnail image created with Wombo Dream ( t.ly/zhJa ).
#germanmusic #reeds
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- Played by Phillip Sear
http://www.psear.co.uk (Email:  [email protected]  
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