Songs
Dunkler Lichtglanz, blinder Blick
by Robert Schumann From Spanische Liebeslieder (1849) Op. 138 31.iii–3.iv & 25.xi.1849
Dunkler Lichtglanz, blinder Blick
German source:
Emanuel Geibel
Totes Leben, Lust voll Plage,
Glück erfüllt von Mißgeschick,
Trübes Lachen, frohe Klage,
Süße Galle, holde Pein,
Fried’ und Krieg in einem Herzen,
Das kannst, Liebe, du nur sein,
Mit der Lust erkauft durch Schmerzen.
Dark light, blind gaze
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Dead life, joy and pain,
Fortune full of misfortune,
Dull laughter, happy lament,
Sweet bitterness, blessed pain,
Peace and war in a single heart—
Only you, Love, can be all that,
With happiness paid for with pain.
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Dunkler Lichtglanz, blinder Blick
German source:
Emanuel Geibel
Dark light, blind gaze
English source:
Richard Stokes
Dunkler Lichtglanz, blinder Blick,
Dark light, blind gaze,
Totes Leben, Lust voll Plage,
Dead life, joy and pain,
Glück erfüllt von Mißgeschick,
Fortune full of misfortune,
Trübes Lachen, frohe Klage,
Dull laughter, happy lament,
Süße Galle, holde Pein,
Sweet bitterness, blessed pain,
Fried’ und Krieg in einem Herzen,
Peace and war in a single heart—
Das kannst, Liebe, du nur sein,
Only you, Love, can be all that,
Mit der Lust erkauft durch Schmerzen.
With happiness paid for with pain.
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
Emanuel Geibel
Emanuel von Geibel , German poet and playwright. He was born at Lübeck, the son of a pastor. He was originally intended for his father's profession and studied at Bonn and Berlin, but his real interests lay not in theology but in classical and…