Am Strome
German source:
Johann Mayrhofer
An den schönen Strom gebunden;
Hab' ich Frohes nicht an seinem Ufer,
Und Betrübtes hier empfunden?
Ja, du gleichest meiner Seele;
Manchmal grün und glatt gestaltet,
Und zu Zeiten herrschen Stürme
Schäumend, unruhvoll, gefaltet.
Fliessest zu dem fernen Meere,
Darfst allda nicht heimisch werden;
Mich drängt's auch in mildre Lande,
Finde nicht das Glück auf Erden.
By the river
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Were bound to the beautiful river.
Have I not known joy
And sorrow on its banks?
Yes, you resemble my soul;
Sometimes green and tranquil,
And sometimes – when storms blow –
Foaming, restless, furrowed!
You flow away to the distant sea,
Where you fail to find your home.
I too yearn for kinder shores –
Can find no happiness on earth.
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Am Strome
German source:
Johann Mayrhofer
By the river
English source:
Richard Stokes
Ist mir's doch, als sei mein Leben
I feel as if my life
An den schönen Strom gebunden;
Were bound to the beautiful river.
Hab' ich Frohes nicht an seinem Ufer,
Have I not known joy
Und Betrübtes hier empfunden?
And sorrow on its banks?
Ja, du gleichest meiner Seele;
Yes, you resemble my soul;
Manchmal grün und glatt gestaltet,
Sometimes green and tranquil,
Und zu Zeiten herrschen Stürme
And sometimes – when storms blow –
Schäumend, unruhvoll, gefaltet.
Foaming, restless, furrowed!
Fliessest zu dem fernen Meere,
You flow away to the distant sea,
Darfst allda nicht heimisch werden;
Where you fail to find your home.
Mich drängt's auch in mildre Lande,
I too yearn for kinder shores –
Finde nicht das Glück auf Erden.
Can find no happiness on earth.
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
Johann Mayrhofer
Johann Baptist Mayrhofer , was an Austrian poet and librettist. He is best known for his close friendship with the composer Franz Schubert. Mayrhofer was born in Steyr, educated and Novitiate in St. Florian's Priory Upper Austria. In 1810 he began…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- 99. Robin Tritschler: To the Distant Beloved 22 Oct 2021
- Schubert, Fauré and Quilter: Klemens Sander & Sholto Kynoch 31 Mar 2020
- Franz Schubert: Alessandro Fisher & Sholto Kynoch 23 Oct 2017