Schubert's Late Lieder: Beyond the Song-Cycles.

Susan Youens. Cambridge University Press (40 W. 20th St., New York, NY 10011-4211), 2002. 436 pp., $75.

Thoughts of the late lieder of Franz Schubert bring to mind the settings of Wilhelm Muller's Die schone Mullerin and Die Winterreise or the collection of Schwanengesang with the poetry of Rellstab and Heine. But who were the poets Collin, Pyrker, Leitner, Seidl, Reil and Franz Xaver Freiherr yon Schlechta-Wssehrd? In her seventh book on the lieder of Hugo Wolf and Franz Schubert, Susan Youens introduces us to these six contemporaries of Schubert, whose poetry is derived primarily from their musical settings.

Although the work of these otherwise unknown poets can no longer stand on its own, "They have interesting cultural tales to tell, and they made wonderful music." Herein lies the beauty of Youens's writing on lieder. Following the successful format of the previous books, she brings together a wealth of knowledge of political and social history, literary imagery, art and drama with the authoritative musical analysis One would expect from a highly respected musicologist. The book offers no direct suggestions for the performers' interpretation but does provide an abundance of background material on which to base an emotional understanding of the works.

The selection of poetry for his late lieder, written between 1822 and his death in 1828, reflects the influence of both Beethoven and Schubert's pending death from syphilis. The lieder often are dark and brooding, echoing his declining health. The songs, however, are by no means unfamiliar to us; Nacht und Traume and Die Allmacht are here as well as one of my favorites, the powerful ballad, Der Zwerg.

The book is divided into four large chapters with single chapters devoted to Collin, Pyrker and Leitner and a final chapter on Schubert's Viennese contemporaries. Youens's style is scholarly, with footnotes at times wing for page dominance. One has the feeling she has almost too much to tell. She pours forth so much understanding of her subject matter that we at times lose track of Schubert's music.

Schubert's Late Lieder is a welcome addition to the serious musician's library. It provides needed information about Schubert's lesser poets and sheds light on the life and literary influences of early nineteenth-century Vienna. Reviewed by Bard Suverkrop, Winchester, Virginia.