Schubert's setting of Johann von Salis-Seewis' Herbstlied (Autumn Song) (D. 502) from December 1816 is vastly different from his settings of two of Salis-Seewis' other Herbstlieds: Der Herbstabend (The Autumn Evening) (D. 405) and Der Herbsnacht (Wehmut) (The Autumn Night [Melancholy]) (D. 404). Both the earlier settings are, as the title of the poem for Herbstnacht indicates, melancholy. But not Herbstlied which is a jaunty little march celebrating the season of lush ripeness. Indeed, Herbstlied is almost as much a celebration of the salt of the earth as it is the season and one senses in Schubert something close to a yearning to partake in the simpler pleasures of the country lads and lasses as they harvest fruit.

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