Songs

Der Gärtner

by Robert Schumann From Sechs Gesänge (1851) Op. 107 1851, 1852

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Text & Translation

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Der Gärtner
German source: Eduard Mörike

Auf ihrem Leibrösslein,
So weiss wie der Schnee,
Die schönste Prinzessin
Reit’t durch die Allee.

Der Weg, den das Rösslein
Hintanzet so hold,
Der Sand, den ich streute,
Er blinket wie Gold.

Du rosenfarb’s Hütlein
Wohl auf und wohl ab,
O wirf eine Feder
Verstohlen herab!

Und willst du dagegen
Eine Blüte von mir,
Nimm tausend für eine,
Nimm alle dafür!

The Gardener
English translation © Richard Stokes

On her favourite mount,
As white as snow,
The loveliest princess
Rides down the avenue.

On the path her horse
Prances so sweetly along,
The sand I scattered
Glitters like gold.

You rose-coloured bonnet
Bobbing up and down,
O throw me a feather
Discreetly down!

And if you in exchange
Want a flower from me,
Take a thousand for _one_,
Take all in return.

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

Der Gärtner
German source: Eduard Mörike

The Gardener
English source: Richard Stokes

Auf ihrem Leibrösslein,
On her favourite mount,
So weiss wie der Schnee,
As white as snow,
Die schönste Prinzessin
The loveliest princess
Reit’t durch die Allee.
Rides down the avenue.

Der Weg, den das Rösslein
On the path her horse
Hintanzet so hold,
Prances so sweetly along,
Der Sand, den ich streute,
The sand I scattered
Er blinket wie Gold.
Glitters like gold.

Du rosenfarb’s Hütlein
You rose-coloured bonnet
Wohl auf und wohl ab,
Bobbing up and down,
O wirf eine Feder
O throw me a feather
Verstohlen herab!
Discreetly down!

Und willst du dagegen
And if you in exchange
Eine Blüte von mir,
Want a flower from me,
Nimm tausend für eine,
Take a thousand for _one_,
Nimm alle dafür!
Take all in return.

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

Eduard Mörike

Eduard Friedrich Mörike was a German Romantic poet. Mörike was born in Ludwigsburg. His father was Karl Friedrich Mörike (d. 1817), a district medical councilor; his mother was Charlotte Bayer. He attended the Latin school at Ludwigsburg, and the…

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