Day 23 — Weihnachtslied

Strauss was apparently around six years old when he wrote this setting of the 18th-century poet Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart's 'Weihnachtslied'. As you might expect from the young composer, this is not one of Strauss's most complex compositions, yet the achievement is still remarkable, given his age. It is an entirely meet setting of Schubart's words, in which lowly shepherds offer this, their humble lullaby in honour of the Christ child. The vocal line is accompanied throughout by the piano, ending with a simple but effective suspension. As Strauss matured, Christianity held less sway and he was never to return to Schubart's poetry. Yet this Lied remains a charming evocation of the gemütlich childhood of the man who would become one of the most textually acute musical minds working in Germany during the first half of the 20th century.

Click here to listen to Katarina Nikolic's performance of the song.
The painting is 'Schnee im Engadin' by Ferdinand Hodler.

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