Listen to renowned baritone Dietrich Henschel perform Franz Schubert's setting of 'Der Lindenbaum' below, accompanied by Sholto Kynoch. This recording is taken from an online concert during the Oxford Lieder 'Winter into Spring' Festival in February 2021.
Text & Translation
Der Lindenbaum
German source:
Wilhelm Müller
Da steht ein Lindenbaum;
Ich träumt’ in seinem Schatten
So manchen süssen Traum.
Ich schnitt in seine Rinde
So manches liebe Wort;
Es zog in Freud’ und Leide
Zu ihm mich immer fort.
Ich musst’ auch heute wandern
Vorbei in tiefer Nacht,
Da hab’ ich noch im Dunkel
Die Augen zugemacht.
Und seine Zweige rauschten,
Als riefen sie mir zu:
Komm her zu mir, Geselle,
Hier findst du deine Ruh’!
Die kalten Winde bliesen
Mir grad’ in’s Angesicht,
Der Hut flog mir vom Kopfe,
Ich wendete mich nicht.
Nun bin ich manche Stunde
Entfernt von jenem Ort,
Und immer hör’ ich’s rauschen:
Du fändest Ruhe dort!
The Linden Tree
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
stands a linden tree;
in its shade I dreamt
many a sweet dream.
In its bark I carved
many a word of love;
in joy and sorrow
I was ever drawn to it.
Today, too, I had to walk
past it at dead of night;
even in the darkness
I closed my eyes.
And its branches rustled
as if they were calling to me:
‘Come to me, friend,
here you will find rest.’
The cold wind blew
straight into my face,
my hat flew from my head;
I did not turn back.
Now I am many hours’ journey
from that place;
yet I still hear the rustling:
‘There you would find rest.’
Der Lindenbaum
German source:
Wilhelm Müller
The Linden Tree
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Am Brunnen vor dem Tore,
By the well, before the gate,
Da steht ein Lindenbaum;
stands a linden tree;
Ich träumt’ in seinem Schatten
in its shade I dreamt
So manchen süssen Traum.
many a sweet dream.
Ich schnitt in seine Rinde
In its bark I carved
So manches liebe Wort;
many a word of love;
Es zog in Freud’ und Leide
in joy and sorrow
Zu ihm mich immer fort.
I was ever drawn to it.
Ich musst’ auch heute wandern
Today, too, I had to walk
Vorbei in tiefer Nacht,
past it at dead of night;
Da hab’ ich noch im Dunkel
even in the darkness
Die Augen zugemacht.
I closed my eyes.
Und seine Zweige rauschten,
And its branches rustled
Als riefen sie mir zu:
as if they were calling to me:
Komm her zu mir, Geselle,
‘Come to me, friend,
Hier findst du deine Ruh’!
here you will find rest.’
Die kalten Winde bliesen
The cold wind blew
Mir grad’ in’s Angesicht,
straight into my face,
Der Hut flog mir vom Kopfe,
my hat flew from my head;
Ich wendete mich nicht.
I did not turn back.
Nun bin ich manche Stunde
Now I am many hours’ journey
Entfernt von jenem Ort,
from that place;
Und immer hör’ ich’s rauschen:
yet I still hear the rustling:
Du fändest Ruhe dort!
‘There you would find rest.’
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
Wilhelm Müller
Johann Ludwig Wilhelm Müller was a German lyric poet. Wilhelm Müller was born on October 7, 1794 at Dessau, the son of a tailor. He was educated at the gymnasium of his native town and at the University of Berlin, where he devoted himself to…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- The Wanderer / Au Naturel 28 Oct 2023
- Concerto Grosso 17 Oct 2023
- 47. Birgid Steinberger, Julius Drake: Schubert & the Sounds of Vienna 23 Oct 2022
- 03. Wilhelm Müller’s Die Winterreise 27 Feb 2021