Schubert had started to compose songs on texts by Goethe in 1814, among which is "Gretchen am Spinnrade," published as hisOp. 2 in 1821.[1] His first Mignon-related song was a setting of "An Mignon" ['Über Tal und Fluß getragen'], a poem published by Goethe in 1797. Schubert set it as a song for voice and piano in February 1815,D 161.[2] Together with fifteen other songs he had composed on Goethe's texts Schubert sent a fair copy of this song to Goethe in 1816.[1]
A second version of this setting was published byAnton Diabelli in 1825 as No. 2 in Schubert's Op. 19, dedicated to Goethe. The earlier version was not published before it was included in theFranz Schubert's Works edition in 1894.[2] In theNew Schubert Edition both versions were published in Series IV, Volume 1.[3]
Like Schubert's four songs Op. 62, also D 321, "Kennst du das Land? (Mignons Gesang)" for voice and piano is based on Goethe'sWilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship, in this case Book III, Chapter 1. Schubert composed it in 1815 (two versions). It was first published in 1832.
D 469, Song "Mignon (So laßt mich scheinen, bis ich werde)" ['So laßt mich scheinen, bis ich werde'] for voice and piano (1816, 1st setting; 1st and 2nd versions; both are fragments)
D 727, Song "Mignon II" ['So laßt mich scheinen, bis ich werde'] for voice and piano (1821, 2nd setting)
