Sheet Music: Serenade

TitleSerenade
from Schwanengesang
Alternate titlesStändchen from Swan Song
Opus numberD.957, No. 4
ComposerFranz Schubert (1797–1828)
InstrumentationFlute and Piano
KeyD minor
RangeD4–G5
Time signature3/4
Tempo60 BPM
Performance time4:10
Difficulty levelintermediate
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (129 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (3.5 MB)
Play-along accompanimentMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (3.5 MB)
Date added2011-02-02
Last updated2015-03-06
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 9.1 (very popular)
Categories
Lieder, Romantic, Serenades

Performances

See here for instructions on how to submit your own recording!

Wednesday 2 February 2011

Tune of the Day: Serenade by Schubert

aka “Ständchen”, arranged for Flute and Piano

Franz Schubert's last song cycle, Schwanengesang, published in 1829, just a few months after the composer's death, was in fact never meant to be a song cycle: it was Schubert's wish that the 14 Lieder that eventually found their way into Schwanengesang be published in groups according to their text's authors. The title of the collection, which translates to “Swan Song”, was the publisher's idea, and is a reference to an ancient belief that some swans are completely mute during their lifetime until the moment just before they die, when they sing one beautiful song.

There was a time in the 20th century when the fourth song of the collection, titled “Ständchen” (“Serenade”), was the most famous serenade in the world. That time was after Schubert had been popularized by the 1934 film Blossom Time, a film in which tenor Richard Tauber played the composer and which used “Ständchen” as its theme song and leitmotif.

Thanks to Dan for suggesting this piece!