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SCHUBERT – Heidenröslein ‘Rose on the Heath’ (an easy song miniature, D.257) – FOUR CELLOS (easy)

Other Identification:
Heidenrösen is a small song composed by Franz Schubert in 1815, based on the text of Johann Wolfgang con Goethe which was in turn published in 1789. The poem is about a young man’s love rejected by his lover, who is symbolized by a rose. In the German-speaking areas it is a common song in school music classes.

Schubert’s setting is partially musically based on late-Mozart influence too. He wrote in all some six hundred romantic songs as well as many operas, symphonies, sonatas and many other works. The song tells the story of a boy who attempts to pick a rose despite its warning that it will prick him, symbolizing a more complex relationship between desire and violation, love, and the potential for pain and unintended consequences.

Movements or sections:
The piece is known for its simple, folk-song-like melody that is identical for each of the three verses.

Instrumentation: QUARTET OF FOUR CELLOS (easy)
Also possible with a larger cello ensemble
Arranged by David Johnstone

Downloads of 2 PDFs:
[1 – General Score
[2 – All individual parts

Approximate difficulty: EASY
David Johnstone has transposed the song into G major, so as to be very approachable by young cello ensembles or those without yet too much experience. Only the first part uses the first four left-hand positions, though the other voices will need to have some knowledge of finger extensions. It is arranged as a ‘chorale song’ so all parts are equally important in the harmonic sense of the music!

The song should be performed with simplicity and naiveté, as it is a deceptively simple and charming piece.

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David Johnstone lives near Pamplona (Navarre, Spain) with his wife Rosa and their two “Spanglish” children, close to the Atlantic Pyrenees. The nearest international airport is Bilbao.

He is interested in world affairs, politics, animal rights, and most sports (including being a lifelong suffering Reading FC fan!). Also passionate about Celtic culture and genealogy, he has traced his ‘English’ family back to 1280, although Scotland and Ireland have also shaped his background. And yes — he is half-ashamed to admit it, he loves silly jokes!

Social Work

David Johnstone supports animal rights, he is against any form of abuse towards them, and says a loud “NO” to bullfighting, foxhunting and any other animal cruelty.

TORTURE IS NOT CULTURE !