An Die Musik is part of a fascinating release by Josephie Foster which presents a modern revival of a tradition in German music known as a lieder. Lieders refer to the practice of setting the words of German Romantic poets like Goethe to music which was particularly popular among composers like Schubert and Schumann. Though music has accompanied poetry for about as long as both poetry and music have existed, the term lieder or lied often describes a setting for piano and solo vocalist, though some were composed for a full orchestra. Foster recasts this tradition with her haunting vocals and interleaving guitar strumming and distorted electric riffs for her second album A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. I found this release because it was recorded and mixed by John Dawson of New Riders of the Purple Sage fame, whose discography I’ve been known to peruse from time to time. This lied was originally composed by Schubert and is a setting of a poem by Franz von Schober.

Foster has released a number of albums of her own compositions since the release of A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. Her most recent album, No More Lamps in the Morning, was released on Fire America Records earlier in 2016.