슈만의 [여인의 사랑과 생애]는 가성부의 선율은 아주 풍성하고 유연해서 부르기 좋게 되어있고 그 진행은 온건한 수평진행과 동경을 담은 4도의 움직임을 즐겨 사용함으로써 남성적인 열광이나 과격함은 보이지 않지만 여성적인 부드러움과 극단으로 치닫는 애정을 잘 나타내고 있다. 그리고 낱낱의 곡 선율은 반주와 서로서로 관련되어 적절한 조화를 이루고 있는데 이제까지의 슈만의 다른 가곡들보다 유별나게 다양한 피아노 반주를 갖고 있는 것은 아니다. 그냥 화성적이거나, 그 연속이거나, 아니면 분산화음적인 것이 반수이상을 차지하고 있다. 슈만으로써는 이처럼 단순한 반주로써 사랑의 순수성이나 숭고함을 묘사하려했는지도 모른다.
이 연가곡의 연구를 통해 작품의 내면세계를 연구해봄은 물론이거니와 곡을 해석하는데 있어서 시의 의미와 프레이징 처리, 아고긱(Agogik), 다이나믹(Dynamic), 그리고 발성적인 부분 등을 연구하여 좀 더 좋은 연주에 도움이 되고자 하는데 목적이 있다.
성악가가 음악적으로 곡을 잘 표현하기 위해서는 첫째, 체계적인 발성을 통해 곡의 톤 칼라(Tone Color)를 잘 결정하여 노래해야 하며, 둘째, Text를 완전히 이해하고 단어의 강세 ,자음과 모음의 뉘앙스에 따라 노래를 부르도록 해야 하며 셋째, 반주자가 반주 할 때 시와 성악부의 음악 관계를 잘 살펴본 뒤 반주할 수 있도록 해야 한다.
German lied after Schubert consists of the vocal part and accompaniment part in harmony and it is difficult to set apart the vocal part to explain. The accompaniment part of ‘Mullet’ by Schubert describes a mullet that plays peacefully and then is dying without any sense of direction in muddy water after having been driven by a fisher. Just like that, Schumann also represented various feelings of text with harmony and notes in the song cycle.
A singer should consider following matters to interpret a tune well. First, a singer should decide a tone color proper for a song through systematic vocalization in singing. Second, a singer should understand the text perfectly and sing according to the accent of words and the nuance of consonant and vowel. Lastly, a singer should have an accompanist look carefully into the musical relationship between the poem and vocal part in accompanying.
Singing with focus on following points will help a good interpretation of song cycle, Frauenliebe und leben.
Song 1
This song has a very simple melody and the staccato and slur of each note expresses the heart of a maid falling in love with a person at first sight. Especially the measure 7, “seh ich ihn alein: wie ihm wachen Traume”(as if dreaming with eyes open) demands the unhidable happiness in mp. Here the inner happiness shall be expressed and emphasized by maintaining tension with a deep breath, giving a little tenuto to ‘ihn’ and crescendo and decrescendo to ‘wachen’.
Song 2
This song praises a man to whom she feels a sentiment of pity and shall be sung brilliantly and beautifully. Dotted notes shall be expressed precisely to ensure a vivid and bright feeling. The frequently appearing Gruppetto tum shall be expressed gracefully and softly with tempo rubato not hasty. Breath shall be maintained well and the note Gb shall not be flatted to ensure good climax at ‘Wahl’ of 42nd measure.
Song 3
This song expresses the complicated feeling to the unbelievable reality as an ideal lover shows up and shall be expressed elastically by staccato, tie, accelerando and ritardando. Compared to the brilliant melody of the song 2, it seems a very simple song, but is not easy song to adjust to the development of words and rhythm.
Therefore, a singer shall be very careful of agogik and dynamic of each melody line in singing. The key of words with attached accidental mark shall not be flatted and the nuance of each word shall be expressed well in singing.
Song 4
This song demands an inner feeling and instead of the bright and brilliant feeling at song 2, expresses the desire that the heart of a very handsome man should be appreciated and accepted. The mature beauty is outstanding in this song. Concerning tempo, it is normal to select a little slow one 27
and it will be good to give life to moderato to make it warm. Concerning vocalization, it is necessary to maintain a stabilized breath as there is frequent leap of notes and to deal with the frequent change of notes with accidental mark sensitively.
Song 5
This song is very fast, bright and active. The introduction expresses the motion of bridegroom who prepares the wedding ceremony, the farewell with sister and the busy and vivid pleasure at the wedding ceremony proceeded by arpeggio and dotted 8th note rhythm. The singer shall control the dynamics well in singing, set the poem to fast rhythm while giving life to dotted notes and sing with narrow and substantial rather than rich voice.
Song 6
This is a three-part song in dialogic style that expresses the pleasure and happiness of a pregnant woman. The part 1 is in slow tempo that is easy to waver. Therefore it shall be kept in mind and the half notes and dotted notes shall be played precisely to express the pleasure of pregnancy. The part 2 from measure 25 expresses the pleasure of a pregnant woman by the change of tempo. The dynamics of the song shall be expressed by the abrupt change of tempo, sforzando, crescendo and decrescendo. In part 3 from measure 45, the woman who prepares giving birth to a baby expecting the look of husband appears. The music of part 1 is repeated to the end. Breath shall be taken deep and consonants shall be expressed more carefully in order to deliver words more actively.
Song 7
This is a song in fast tempo that shall be expressed cheerfully while making use of the rhythm. The same note at measure 1 i28
n accompaniment is designated as f and p, so the dynamics shall be treated to be contrasted. Words shall be expressed precisely by putting focus forward with deep and narrow breath. In 2 beat rhythm, the first beat shall be pronounced in tenuto with rhythm on it and the first beat of the next measure shall be given accent and phrased cheerfully.
Song 8
This song expresses the feeling of a woman who meets the biggest torment in life as her husband dies. In measures 1~11, the intensity of sorrow shall be expressed in sf by deep breath to reveal the scream of agony of mind, and breath shall be taken at rest. In measures 12~22, descending phrase shall be used to express the sorrow penetrating into inner mind in deep breath and tension, and low notes and words shall be expressed precisely to deliver the meaning.