After poems by Meinrad Lienert

While they are still rarely heard in the concert hall, art songs in Swiss German dialect are now increasingly being recorded on CDs. With samples by Volkmar Andreae, Walter Lang, Irma Levaillant, Friedrich Niggli, Heinrich Pestalozzi and Werner Wehrli, among others, the Aarau pianist Werner Schmid, together with singers Christina Lang and Margrita Sarbach, performed in 2010 under the motto And 's Meiteli sings (self-published, Aarau) is an inspiring pioneering work.

With the Lienert setting Plan by Friedrich Niggli, whose first recording Regula Mühlemann recorded on her production Songs of the homeland 2019, soprano Sybille Diethelm and pianist Fabienne Romer have now released a CD dedicated exclusively to poems by the Schwyz writer. The two interpreters, who are particularly passionate about forgotten art songs by Swiss composers, offer numerous discoveries from the first half of the 20th century among the 30 pieces.

The CD title Plangliedli, Lanzigliedli, Herbstliedli, Heiwehliedli They do justice to this with a selection that makes you sit up and take notice for its musical content alone. The performances are full of enthusiasm, with only the clarity of the lyrics leaving something to be desired. The pianist supports the singer in all nuances of expression, whether humorous turns of phrase or melancholy sentiments, with the finest sensitivity for Meinrad Lienert's poetry rich in imagery. Folkloristic coloring shines through surprisingly rarely. The most original compositions are the harmonically bold Autumn songs and the chanson-like bijou I wish I was ... by Volkmar Andreae; surprises with many chromatisms and ostinati 's häluf Maitli by Walter Schulthess.

Among the many first recordings are those by Gottfried Bohnenblust, Gustav Haug, Hans Jelmoli, Ferdinand Oscar Leu, Felix Pfirstinger and Heiner Vollenwyder. David Schwarb contributed a profound introductory text. All poems are included in the booklet in the original and with High German translations.