Heidenröslein by Franz Schubert Piano Solo - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1373223

As a vocal major and accompanist during my undergraduate and graduate years, I became familiar with a great number of lieder by Franz Schubert. It's far too difficult to pick a favorite, but this song was one of the first pieces I learned to sing. As common in so many of his songs, "Heidenröslein" has a very simple, folk-like melody, and the accompaniment almost has the feel of a pianist vamping at the keyboard. My arrangement is very much inspired by the music of George Winston. The right hand has a somewhat ostinato feel in the opening. When the melody enters, the right hand figure is moved into the left hand while the melody floats above as though carried on a summer breeze. The second verse takes on a more music box feel as it makes frequent pauses in the music, but the melody is always present in the right hand, even when it is surrounded by a steady stream of eighth notes.
The work closes with a return of the opening material and fragments of the melody tossed back and forth like the falling petals of the rose on the heath.