Schubert - Die Forelle for Medium Voice in B-flat Major

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Schubert’s Sparkling Trout Song — Transposed for Medium Voice

Franz Schubert (1797–1828) composed Die Forelle (“The Trout”) around 1817, setting a poem by Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart. It is one of the most joyful and immediately captivating songs in the entire repertoire — a vivid, sparkling depiction of a trout darting through a clear stream, followed by a darker turn as a fisherman catches it by muddying the water. The piano’s rippling, bubbling accompaniment is one of the most delightful in all of song literature, and the melody is irresistibly charming. Schubert later used the song as the basis for his celebrated Trout Quintet.

This edition is transposed to B-flat major for medium voice (mezzo-soprano or baritone), making this sparkling song accessible to middle-voice singers. A perennial audience favorite and a joy to perform. Also available in D-flat major for high voice.

Performance Highlights

• One of the most joyful and captivating songs in the repertoire
• A vivid, sparkling depiction of a trout in a clear stream
• The basis for Schubert’s celebrated Trout Quintet
• Transposed to B-flat major for medium voice (mezzo-soprano, baritone)
• A perennial audience favorite — ideal for any recital
• Digital PDF download — print-ready score included

About the Composer

Franz Schubert (1797–1828) was the supreme master of the German Lied, composing over 600 songs in his short lifetime. Born in Vienna, he possessed an unparalleled gift for melody and an extraordinary ability to illuminate the emotional depths of a poem through music. His songs — from the intimate simplicity of Du bist die Ruh to the dramatic intensity of the Erlkönig — transformed the art song into one of the great forms of Western music. Though he died at thirty-one, his output encompassed symphonies, chamber music, piano works, and choral music of the highest order, and his influence on the Romantic tradition was immeasurable.