Songs
Der Himmel hat eine Träne geweint
by Robert Schumann From Zwölf Gedichte aus „Liebesfrühling“ (1841) Op. 37 4–11 & 16.i.1841
This song was recorded on the album 'Robert and Clara Schumann: Rückert Lieder' on Stone Records (in collaboration with BBC Music Magazine). Featuring every piano-accompanied setting of the poet Friedrich Rückert by both Robert and Clara Schumann, including duets and ensembles, it was recorded in preparation for Oxford Lieder's The Schumann Project in 2016.
Click here to listen to this song with Robert Murray and Sholto Kynoch, or click here to buy the CD from Stone Records.
Der Himmel hat eine Träne geweint
German source:
Friedrich Rückert
Die hat sich ins Meer verlieren gemeint.
Die Muschel kam und schloss sie ein:
Du sollst nun meine Perle sein.
Du sollst nicht vor den Wogen zagen,
Ich will hindurch dich ruhig tragen.
O du mein Schmerz, du meine Lust,
Du Himmelsträn’ in meiner Brust!
Gib, Himmel, dass ich in reinem Gemüte
Den reinsten deiner Tropfen hüte.
Heaven shed a tear
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
That thought to lose itself in the sea.
The mussel came and locked it in:
My pearl shall you now be.
You shall not fear the waves,
I shall bear you calmly through.
O you, my pain, O you, my joy,
You tear of heaven in my breast!
Grant, heaven, that with a pure soul
I guard the purest of your drops.
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Der Himmel hat eine Träne geweint
German source:
Friedrich Rückert
Heaven shed a tear
English source:
Richard Stokes
Der Himmel hat eine Träne geweint,
Heaven shed a tear
Die hat sich ins Meer verlieren gemeint.
That thought to lose itself in the sea.
Die Muschel kam und schloss sie ein:
The mussel came and locked it in:
Du sollst nun meine Perle sein.
My pearl shall you now be.
Du sollst nicht vor den Wogen zagen,
You shall not fear the waves,
Ich will hindurch dich ruhig tragen.
I shall bear you calmly through.
O du mein Schmerz, du meine Lust,
O you, my pain, O you, my joy,
Du Himmelsträn’ in meiner Brust!
You tear of heaven in my breast!
Gib, Himmel, dass ich in reinem Gemüte
Grant, heaven, that with a pure soul
Den reinsten deiner Tropfen hüte.
I guard the purest of your drops.
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
Friedrich Rückert
Friedrich Rückert was a German poet, translator, and professor of Oriental languages. Rückert was born at Schweinfurt and was the eldest son of a lawyer. He was educated at the local Gymnasium and at the universities of Würzburg and Heidelberg.…