THE LIBRARY | SONGS

This song is famous for the unrelenting tremolos in the right hand of the piano. The ferocious difficulty of the piano part is not a virtuosic end unto itself: the tremolos represent the literal storm raging outside, and the symbolic storm raging within the young nun’s heart. Even while limiting himself to a single texture in the piano part, Schubert is able to masterfully paint the text. Note the sudden “fortepiano” under the phrase “heulende Sturm” (raging storm) and the extremely low F octaves in the piano left hand under the word “grab” (grave). The final “Alleluja” is set on a “plagal” cadence- a IV-I resolution that is frequently used to end prayers in church services (It’s sometimes referred to as the “Amen” Cadence).