Songs

Am ersten Maimorgen, fragment completed by Reinhard van Hoorickx

by Franz Schubert

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Text & Translation

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Am ersten Maimorgen, fragment completed by Reinhard van Hoorickx
German source: Matthias Claudius

Heute will ich fröhlich, fröhlich sein,
Keine Weis’ und keine Sitte hören;
Will mich wälzen, und für Freude schrein,
Und der König soll mir das nicht wehren.

Denn er kommt mit seiner Freuden Schaar
Heute aus der Morgenröte Hallen,
Einen Blumenkranz um Brust und Haar
Und auf seiner Schulter Nachtigallen.

On the first May morning
English translation © Richard Wigmore

Today I shall be merry, merry;
I shall hear no wisdom and no moralizing.
I shall run about and shout for joy;
and even the king will not stop me.

For today he comes with his retinue of joys
from the halls of dawn,
garlands around his head and breast,
and nightingales on his shoulder.

Am ersten Maimorgen, fragment completed by Reinhard van Hoorickx
German source: Matthias Claudius

On the first May morning
English source: Richard Wigmore

Heute will ich fröhlich, fröhlich sein,
Today I shall be merry, merry;
Keine Weis’ und keine Sitte hören;
I shall hear no wisdom and no moralizing.
Will mich wälzen, und für Freude schrein,
I shall run about and shout for joy;
Und der König soll mir das nicht wehren.
and even the king will not stop me.

Denn er kommt mit seiner Freuden Schaar
For today he comes with his retinue of joys
Heute aus der Morgenröte Hallen,
from the halls of dawn,
Einen Blumenkranz um Brust und Haar
garlands around his head and breast,
Und auf seiner Schulter Nachtigallen.
and nightingales on his shoulder.

Composer

Franz Schubert

Franz Peter Schubert was an late Classical and early Romantic composer. He produced a vast oeuvre during his short life, composing more the 600 vocal works (largely Lieder), and well as several symphonies, operas, and a large body of piano music. He…

Poet

Matthias Claudius

Matthias Claudius was a German poet, most notable for Der Mond ist aufgegangen (The Moon Has Risen) and editor of the journal Der Wandsbecker Bothe.  After studying at Jena, Claudius held a series of editorial and minor official positions in…

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