Songs
Der Hans und die Grete tanzen herum
by Robert Schumann From Der arme Peter (1840) Op. 53 no.3 ? autumn 1840
Der Hans und die Grete tanzen herum
German source:
Heinrich Heine
Und jauchzen vor lauter Freude.
Der Peter steht so still und so stumm,
Und ist so blass wie Kreide.
Der Hans und die Grete sind Bräut’gam und Braut,
Und blitzen im Hochzeitgeschmeide.
Der arme Peter die Nägel kaut
Und geht im Werkeltagkleide.
Der Peter spricht leise vor sich her,
Und schauet betrübet auf beide:
„Ach! wenn ich nicht gar zu vernünftig wär’,
Ich täte mir was zu leide.“
Hans and Grete are dancing about
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
And crying aloud for joy.
Peter stands there speechless and still,
Looking as white as chalk.
Hans and Grete are groom and bride,
And gleam in wedding finery.
Poor Peter is biting his nails
And wearing his working clothes.
Peter mumbles to himself
Looking sadly at the pair:
‘If I weren’t such as sensible lad,
I’d do myself some harm.’
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Der Hans und die Grete tanzen herum
German source:
Heinrich Heine
Hans and Grete are dancing about
English source:
Richard Stokes
Der Hans und die Grete tanzen herum,
Hans and Grete are dancing about,
Und jauchzen vor lauter Freude.
And crying aloud for joy.
Der Peter steht so still und so stumm,
Peter stands there speechless and still,
Und ist so blass wie Kreide.
Looking as white as chalk.
Der Hans und die Grete sind Bräut’gam und Braut,
Hans and Grete are groom and bride,
Und blitzen im Hochzeitgeschmeide.
And gleam in wedding finery.
Der arme Peter die Nägel kaut
Poor Peter is biting his nails
Und geht im Werkeltagkleide.
And wearing his working clothes.
Der Peter spricht leise vor sich her,
Peter mumbles to himself
Und schauet betrübet auf beide:
Looking sadly at the pair:
„Ach! wenn ich nicht gar zu vernünftig wär’,
‘If I weren’t such as sensible lad,
Ich täte mir was zu leide.“
I’d do myself some harm.’
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…