Songs
Der Zeisig
by Robert Schumann From Sieben Lieder von Elisabeth Kulmann (1851) Op. 104 29.v– 5.vi.1851
Der Zeisig
German source:
Elisabeth Kulmann
Wir sind ja, Kind, im Maie,
Wirf Buch und Heft von dir!
Komm’ einmal her in’s Freie,
Und sing’ ein Lied mit mir.
Komm, singen fröhlich beide
Wir einen Wettgesang,
Und wer da will, entscheide,
Wer von uns besser sang!
The finch
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
It is maytime, child,
Cast aside your school books!
Come out into the open
And sing a song with me.
Come, let us vie with each other
In cheerful song,
And let who will, decide
Which of us sang better!
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Der Zeisig
German source:
Elisabeth Kulmann
The finch
English source:
Richard Stokes
_Ein Lied aus ihrem frühsten Mädchenalter, vielleicht schon im elften Jahre gedichtet. So reizend naive enthalten die Dichtungen jener Zeit an die Hundert. Auf das tiefste spiegelt sie überall die Wirklichkeit ab._
_A song written when she was a young girl, perhaps in her eleventh year. Hundreds of other poems written at this time are similarly naive and charming. She always reflects reality in the profoundest way._
Wir sind ja, Kind, im Maie,
It is maytime, child,
Wirf Buch und Heft von dir!
Cast aside your school books!
Komm’ einmal her in’s Freie,
Come out into the open
Und sing’ ein Lied mit mir.
And sing a song with me.
Komm, singen fröhlich beide
Come, let us vie with each other
Wir einen Wettgesang,
In cheerful song,
Und wer da will, entscheide,
And let who will, decide
Wer von uns besser sang!
Which of us sang better!
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
Elisabeth Kulmann
Elisabeth Kulmann was Russian, German and Italian poet and translator. She was born in the Russian Empire in a large family of Boris Fedorovich, and Mary (née Rosenberg) Kulmann, of German origin. Father, collegiate councilor and a retired captain,…