Knee Deep in the Hooah!

A post at Piper’s reminded me of one of my favorite Classical pieces. It was composed by Franz Schubert, and it tells the story of a lone Shepherd who goes through a transition from complacency, to a long cold winter separated from his love, to the hope and exuberant joy of remembering that the Springtime is just around the corner and his hope is rekindled.

It’s funny how poetry, art, music and the like can seem to tell our stories over and over again. This lieder has always resonated with me in various seasons of my life. Some say the lieder is truly about the life of a shepherd, others would argue that the symbolism has a Christian based reflection of the Church longing for reconciliation with Christ.

The song is done in classical German Art Song format. The words to the song are taken from a poem, but the music tells the story as you listen to the three phases of the Shepherd’s life. The Shepherd’s tale would just sound like an average, joyful song if you only listened to the first part. I say it’s complacency because the Shepherd really has not gone through his sorrow just yet. It’s the sorrow in the wintertime that creates a tension and prepares the listener for the incredibly exuberant finish. If you listen closely to the entire song with the words in mind you will be ready to jump to your feet and dance with the Shepherd at the end when his hope, joy and being are rekindled and revived.

Below the English interpretation of the song (yes it’s original language is German and it’s beautiful!) is a rendition of the song by Soprano Elly Ameling who does a beautiful job with presentation and interpretation. She sounds angelic and her voice is pure, strong and breathtaking. Even though I love Ameling’s version I have to argue that none surpass Dame Felicity Lott in her rendition of Shepherd on the Rock. When Lott sings it you can feel your own heart break during the Shepherd’s long and lonely winter. You will enjoy the song linked below, but if you ever get the chance to hear Lott’s rendition I highly recommend it. Enjoy.

When I am standing on the highest rock, looking Down in the deep valley, And sing, and sing. And sing.
Far way from the dark, deep valley, The echo comes up, the echo from the gorges
The further my voice travels, the brighter it comes back again, from down there.

My sweetheart lives so far from me, that’s why I’m yearning for her so much, Over there.
The deep sorrow eats me up, joy died for me. Hope left me on earth; I am so lonely here.
So longing sounds the song in the forest, So longing does it sound through the night.

The hearts are drawn to heaven with a magical force.

Springtime will be coming, spring time, my joy, Now I am getting ready to wonder.

Shepherd on the Rock (part 1 Complacency to Sorrow)
Shepherd on the Rock (part 2 From Sorrow to Joy)

Tags: music //