Songs

Die tausend Grüsse

by Robert Schumann From Minnespiel (1849) Op. 101 1–5.vi.1849

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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 Mary Bevan, Robert Murray and Sholto Kynoch, or click here to buy the CD from Stone Records.



Text & Translation

View IPA

Die tausend Grüsse
German source: Friedrich Rückert

Die tausend Grüsse,
Die wir dir senden,
Ostwind dir müsse
Keinen entwenden!

Zu dir im Schwarme
Zieh’n die Gedanken.
Könnten die Arme
Auch dich umranken!

Du in die Lüfte
Hauche dein Sehnen!
Lass deine Düfte
Küsse mich wähnen.

Schwör’ es! ich hör’ es:
Dass du mir gut bist,
Hör’ es! ich schwör’ es:
Dass du mein Blut bist.

Dein war und blieb’ ich,
Dein bin und bleib’ ich
Schon vielmal sang ich’s,
Noch vielmal sing ich’s:
Dein war und blieb’ ich,
Dein bin und bleib’ ich.

The thousand greetings
English translation © Richard Stokes

The thousand greetings
That we send you,
O East Wind, you must
Steal none of them!

Thoughts
Throng to you.
Could arms
Also entwine you!

Oh! Breathe into the air
Your longing!
Let me take your fragrance
For kisses.

Swear! I shall hear it:
That you love me,
Listen! I swear it:
That you are my very blood.

I was yours and remained yours,
I am yours and remain yours;
Many times I’ve sung it,
Still many times I’ll sing it:
I was yours and remained yours,
I am yours and remain yours.

Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

Die tausend Grüsse
German source: Friedrich Rückert

The thousand greetings
English source: Richard Stokes

Die tausend Grüsse,
The thousand greetings
Die wir dir senden,
That we send you,
Ostwind dir müsse
O East Wind, you must
Keinen entwenden!
Steal none of them!

Zu dir im Schwarme
Thoughts
Zieh’n die Gedanken.
Throng to you.
Könnten die Arme
Could arms
Auch dich umranken!
Also entwine you!

Du in die Lüfte
Oh! Breathe into the air
Hauche dein Sehnen!
Your longing!
Lass deine Düfte
Let me take your fragrance
Küsse mich wähnen.
For kisses.

Schwör’ es! ich hör’ es:
Swear! I shall hear it:
Dass du mir gut bist,
That you love me,
Hör’ es! ich schwör’ es:
Listen! I swear it:
Dass du mein Blut bist.
That you are my very blood.

Dein war und blieb’ ich,
I was yours and remained yours,
Dein bin und bleib’ ich
I am yours and remain yours;
Schon vielmal sang ich’s,
Many times I’ve sung it,
Noch vielmal sing ich’s:
Still many times I’ll sing it:
Dein war und blieb’ ich,
I was yours and remained yours,
Dein bin und bleib’ ich.
I am yours and remain yours.

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.…

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