Stephanie Wurmbrand-Stuppach: Melusine am Quell (c1890)

Melusine am Quell (c1890)
by Stephanie Wurmbrand-Stuppach (1849-1919)

Indictus Project

Nicholas Phillips, piano

This beautiful and evocative movement comes from a larger set entitled 'Die schöne Melusine' (The Beautiful Melusina). These 'musical illustrations' depict scenes of the legendary water nymph, but the more romantic and less frightening version that was particularly popular in Romantic-era Europe. This early movement reads:

Die Wasserfee ruht einsam und traumversunken in ihrem Quell, der aus liefdunkler Felsgrotte hervorbricht

The water nymph, alone, lost in dreams, rests at her spring, which bubbles up from a dark stone grotto

Stephanie Wurmbrand-Stuppach, aka Stephanie Brand-Vrabély, led an accomplished life, widely recognized as a composer, touring virtuoso pianist, and cultural writer. She ran in circles with Liszt and Brahms among others, and supported the early efforts of Bartok, in solidarity with her Hungarian roots.