In his wonderful and extravagant program book for his recording of Schubert's Der Zufriedene (The Contented Man) (D. 320), Graham Johnson speculates that Schubert had Beethoven's song Der Zufriedene in mind when he composed his setting of Christian Reissig's poem. As Johnson notes, both Beethoven's and Schubert's songs are strophic; both are in A major; both are in 2/4 time; and both have triplets in the piano accompaniment. All this is incontrovertibly true. One might also point out, as Johnson does, that Schubert in his youth not infrequently turned to the songs of older composers as models for his own songs and that Schubert esteemed Beethoven above all other living composers. And one might further point out, as Johnson does not, that both songs are smug little ditties of no great importance in either composer's oeuvre. But that is to gild the lily of critical commentary. Like the contented man of the song's title, it is best, perhaps, simply to enjoy what one has for what it is and not to wish for what one has not.

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