Songs
Die Soldatenbraut
by Robert Schumann From Romanzen und Balladen, iv (1847) Op. 64 27.x 7– 8.xi.1841 & 29–30.v.1847
Die Soldatenbraut
German source:
Eduard Mörike
Wie wacker mein Schätzelein ist!
Für den König, da liess’ er sein Blut,
Für mich aber eben so gut.
Mein Schatz hat kein Band und kein’ Stern,
Kein Kreuz wie die vornehmen Herrn,
Mein Schatz wird auch kein General;
Hätt’ er nur seinen Abschied einmal!
Es scheinen drei Sterne so hell
Dort über Marien-Kapell;
Da knüpft uns ein rosenrot’ Band,
Und ein Hauskreuz ist auch bei der Hand.
The soldier's sweetheart
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
How brave and bold my dearest is!
He’d lay down his life for the king,
And just as willingly for me.
My dearest has no ribbons, no stars,
No crosses like the gentry,
My dearest will never become a general:
If only he were at home on leave!
Three stars shine so brightly
Over the Lady’s Chapel;
We’ll tie the knot with a pink ribbon,
And he’ll soon have a cross to bear at home.
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Die Soldatenbraut
German source:
Eduard Mörike
The soldier's sweetheart
English source:
Richard Stokes
Ach, wenn’s nur der König auch wüsst’,
Ah, if only the king also knew
Wie wacker mein Schätzelein ist!
How brave and bold my dearest is!
Für den König, da liess’ er sein Blut,
He’d lay down his life for the king,
Für mich aber eben so gut.
And just as willingly for me.
Mein Schatz hat kein Band und kein’ Stern,
My dearest has no ribbons, no stars,
Kein Kreuz wie die vornehmen Herrn,
No crosses like the gentry,
Mein Schatz wird auch kein General;
My dearest will never become a general:
Hätt’ er nur seinen Abschied einmal!
If only he were at home on leave!
Es scheinen drei Sterne so hell
Three stars shine so brightly
Dort über Marien-Kapell;
Over the Lady’s Chapel;
Da knüpft uns ein rosenrot’ Band,
We’ll tie the knot with a pink ribbon,
Und ein Hauskreuz ist auch bei der Hand.
And he’ll soon have a cross to bear at home.
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…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- Eichendorff Liederkreis: Felicity Lott & Eugene Asti 26 Oct 2016
- Schumann & Loewe 25 Oct 2016
- The Life & Times of Robert Schumann Session II 22 Oct 2016