Der Beichtzettel

Franz Wilhelm Abt, a prolific composer of German Lieder and partsongs, wrote this charming SATB setting of secular German verse. The text tells the humorous story of a young woman preparing to confess her sins before her lover intercepts her list, finding that her 'sins' are merely declarations of her deep affection for him. Abt's music would have been suited for domestic music-making or choral societies of the nineteenth century. The piece is a delightful example of the German part-song tradition, offering light-hearted humour and a pleasing vocal challenge for mixed choirs.