In addition to his many solo songs, Franz Schubert wrote about one hundred male quartets and choruses. These part songs, like their solo counterparts, use texts by the great poets, like Goethe and Schiller, and have equally beautiful melodies. The popularity of these pieces was due to the development of music making by the middle class. Small public concerts, given in taverns or peoples homes, were places that the songs would be performed. Schubert was often requested to compose these part-songs for the occasions. Among the all male songs is the gem "Standchen" which is scored for alto and male chorus with piano accompaniment. The men of the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers perform these rarely heard pieces with great beauty and lyricism. The songs on this CD are a cappella, with a few having guitar or piano accompaniment. |
