One of my favorite pieces from the song cycle “The Winter Journey” (Die Winterreise), by the German composer Franz Schubert (1797-1828) is “Der Leiermann” (“The Hurdy-Gurdy Man”). Schubert used a series of poems by Wilhelm Müller (1794-1827) to create this gloomy cycle, which follows a wanderer’s path from unrequested love to isolation and perhaps death. Der Leiermann is the last song from the cycle, and the images of the poor, old, and lonely organ player against the hypnotic and repetitive piano is staggering.
Of the many possible interpretations there are a couple I quite like. We can see the organ player as what will become of the wanderer; a penniless artist performing his art for no one. Or perhaps the organ player is Death itself, patiently waiting for the wanderer to follow him (Strange old man / Shall I go with you?).
Schubert knew he was ill (from syphilis, a common 19th century disease), so it is tempting to place him as the sole listener of the old organ player. Is the organ player what he imagines he will become, a decrepit figure playing “with numb fingers” for no one? Or is the hurdy gurdy man Death, approaching the sick composer?
Note: There was a video of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau performing this song,but it has been removed from YouTube due to “copyright infringement”, which I find extremely annoying. I have therefore put a version of Barenboim playing the piano and Quasthoff singing. I do like this version, but the Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau one was unreal.
These are the words to the song. The translation is by Celia A. Sgroi, (I took it from this page)
|
Der Leiermann Drüben hinterm Dorfe Barfuß auf dem Eise Keiner mag ihn hören, Und er läßt es gehen, Wunderlicher Alter ! |
The Hurdy-Gurdy Man Over there beyond the village Barefoot on the ice, No one listens to him, And he just lets it happen, Strange old man, |