Schubert made two settings of Ludwig Kosegarten's Abends unter der Linde (Evening under the Linden), the first on July 24, 1815, and the second the following day. Did Schubert re-set Kosegarten's poem because he was dissatisfied with his first setting, because he thought he could do more with it, or because he simply loved the poem? It is impossible to know. Both versions of the song have many similarities: the openings of each verse and the modulations at the end of each verse are nearly identical and both songs are strophic. However, the second version of Abends unter der Linde (D. 237), is considerably more expressive and expansive than the first version. This can be explained by the following facts: Schubert set three verses of the poem in his second version; he chose two different and more emotional verses to conclude the second version; and, finally, Schubert's second vocal melody is more emotionally charged. In both cases, the piano accompaniment is simple and unaffected. Interestingly, the first version of Abends unter der Linde is in triple time, while the second version is in duple time.

© All Music Guide