A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Rosamunde

ROSAMUNDE FÜRSTIN VON CYPERN (Rosamond, Princess of Cyprus). A romantic play in 4 acts; written by Wilhelmine Christine Chezy, the overture and incidental music by Franz Schubert (op. 26). Produced at the Theatre an-der-Wien, Vienna, Dec. 20, 1823, and only performed twice. The music as then played is as follows:—

* 1. Overture (D minor).
† 2. Entracte between Acts 1 and 2 (B minor).
† 3. Ballo (B minor), and Andante un poco assai (G).
  4. Entracte between Acts 2 and 3 (D).
* 5. Romance for soprano 'Der Vollmond strahlt' (F minor).
* 6. Chorus of Spirits.
* 7. Entracte between Acts 3 and 4 (B♭).
  8. Shepherds' Melody.
* 9. Shepherds' Chorus.
*10. Huntsmen's Chorus.
†11. Air de Ballet (G).

The overture played at the performances was published in 1827, for PF. 4 hands, by Schubert himself, as op. 53, under the title of 'Alphonso und Estrella' (now op. 69). The overture (in C), known as the 'Overture to Rosamunde' (op. 26) was composed for the melodrama of the 'Zauberharfe,' or Magic Harp (produced Aug. 19, 1820), and was published by Schubert with its present name and opus-number for PF. 4 hands, in 1828. The pieces marked have been published—those marked with * by Schubert himself, as op. 26; those marked with † more recently. For particulars see Nottebohm's Thematic Catalogue, p. 46, 84. The Entracte in B minor is one of the finest of all Schubert's works; the Romance, the Entracte no. 7, the Shepherds' Melody, and the Air de Ballet in G, are all admirable, the Shepherds' Melody for 2 clarinets especially characteristic. The 2nd Trio to the Entracte no. 7 was previously composed, in May 1816, as a song, 'Der Leidende.'

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