Undoubtedly Schubert’s most famous ballad is the Erlkönig but do you know Der Zwerg (The Dwarf)? Download the text from IPA Source, the score from IMSLP and then listen to Jessye Norman sing this powerful song on YouTube. Appropriate for both male and female voices.
Get ready for spring with Schubert’s passionate love song, Heimliches Lieben (Secret Love). This beautiful song for lyric soprano is set to a text by the female poet, Karoline Louise von Klenke. Listen to Elly Ameling sing this lyric masterpiece with a period instrument on YouTube. The score is on IMSLP.
Basses, want something different from Schubert? How about the three Italian songs (D.902) set for the greatest Italian basso of the 18th century, Luigi Lablance in an operatic style. The first song is lovely cavatina L’incanto degli occhi, followed by a dramatic aria Il traditor deluso, and finishing with a buffo aria Il modo di prender moglie. Get the score at IMSLP. Listen to Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Gerald Moore on YouTube.
Sopranos have Der Hirt auf dem Felsen (The Shepherd on the Rock) for soprano, clarinet, and piano. For tenor, the best extended song (almost ten minutes) of Franz Schubert is Auf dem Strom, written for tenor, horn, and piano. Find the score at IMSLP, a perfect recording with Richard Lewis, tenor; Dennis Brain, horn; Ernest Lush, piano on YouTube, and as always, the text and IPA on IPA Source.