Songs

Das ist ein Flöten und Geigen

by Robert Schumann From Dichterliebe (1840) Op. 48

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Text & Translation

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Das ist ein Flöten und Geigen
German source: Heinrich Heine

Das ist ein Flöten und Geigen,
Trompeten schmettern darein;
Da tanzt wohl den Hochzeitsreigen
Die Herzallerliebste mein.

Das ist ein Klingen und Dröhnen,
Ein Pauken und ein Schalmei’n;
Dazwischen schluchzen und stöhnen
Die lieblichen Engelein.

What a fluting, what a scraping
English translation © Richard Stokes

What a fluting, what a scraping,
With trumpets blaring in;
That must be my dearest love
Dancing at her wedding feast.

What a clashing, what a clanging,
What a drumming, what a piping;
And the lovely little angels
Sobbing and groaning in between.

Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Das ist ein Flöten und Geigen
German source: Heinrich Heine

What a fluting, what a scraping
English source: Richard Stokes

Das ist ein Flöten und Geigen,
What a fluting, what a scraping,
Trompeten schmettern darein;
With trumpets blaring in;
Da tanzt wohl den Hochzeitsreigen
That must be my dearest love
Die Herzallerliebste mein.
Dancing at her wedding feast.

Das ist ein Klingen und Dröhnen,
What a clashing, what a clanging,
Ein Pauken und ein Schalmei’n;
What a drumming, what a piping;
Dazwischen schluchzen und stöhnen
And the lovely little angels
Die lieblichen Engelein.
Sobbing and groaning in between.

Composer

Robert Schumann

Robert Schumann was a German composer and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist. He had been assured…

Poet

Heinrich Heine

Heine was born of Jewish parents. Much of his early life was influenced by the financial power of his uncle Salomon Heine, a millionaire Hamburg banker, with whom he remained on an awkward footing for many years. After he had been educated in the…

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