by Peter Rainsford

I’m grateful to be so involved in music.

Teaching music, performing music, making music with others, composing music, practising music, listening to music, sharing music, introducing children to music.

Being enriched by music, being comforted by music.

Franz Schubert composed ‘An die Music’ (To Music) in March 1817.

It was written for solo voice and piano, with a text from a poem by his friend Franz von Schober.

It is a hymn to the art of music, written in German, and one of Schubert’s best-known songs.

Here is a translation:O blessed art, how often in dark hours,

When the savage ring of life tightens round me,

Have you kindled warm love in my heart,
Have transported me to a better world!

Often a sigh has escaped from your harp,
A sweet, sacred harmony of yours

Has opened up the heavens to better times for me,
O blessed art, I thank you for that!

Listen here.

We all have ‘go-to’ songs and music that we listen to, at significant times.What would your choice be?

Thank you for reading.


Peter Rainsford