Songs

Flutenreicher Ebro

by Robert Schumann From Spanische Liebeslieder (1849) Op. 138 31.iii–3.iv & 25.xi.1849

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Text & Translation

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Flutenreicher Ebro
German source: Emanuel Geibel

Flutenreicher Ebro,
Blühendes Ufer,
All’ ihr grünen Matten,
Schattten des Waldes,
Fraget die Geliebte,
Die unter euch ruhet,
Ob in ihrem Glücke
Sie meiner gedenket.

Und ihr tauigen Perlen,
Die ihr im Frührot
Den grünenden Rasen
Bunt mit Farben schmückt,
Fraget die Geliebte,
Wenn sie Kühlung atmet,
Ob in ihrem Glücke
Sie meiner gedenket.

Ihr laubigen Pappeln,
Schimmernde Pfade,
Wo leichten Fusses
Mein Mädchen wandelt,
Wenn sie euch begegnet,
Fragt sie, fragt sie,
Ob in ihrem Glücke
Sie meiner gedenket.

Ihr schwärmenden Vögel,
Die den Sonnenaufgang
Singend ihr begrüsset
Mit Flötenstimmen,
Fraget die Geliebte,
Dieses Ufers Blume,
Ob in ihrem Glücke
Sie meiner gedenket.

Surging River Ebro
English translation © Richard Stokes

Surging River Ebro,
Blossoming banks,
All you green pastures
And forest shadows—
Ask my beloved
Who dwells among you
If in her happiness
She thinks of me.

And you dewy pearls,
Who in the rosy dawn
Adorn the green grass
With many bright colours—
Ask my beloved,
When she breathes the cool air,
If in her happiness
She thinks of me.

You leafy poplars,
Shimmering paths,
Where with light tread
My girl roams—
When she meets you,
Ask her, ask her
If in her happiness
She thinks of me.

You swarming birds,
Who greet the sunrise
With flute-like
Songs—
Ask my beloved,
The flower of this shore,
If in her happiness
She thinks of me.

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

Flutenreicher Ebro
German source: Emanuel Geibel

Surging River Ebro
English source: Richard Stokes

Flutenreicher Ebro,
Surging River Ebro,
Blühendes Ufer,
Blossoming banks,
All’ ihr grünen Matten,
All you green pastures
Schattten des Waldes,
And forest shadows—
Fraget die Geliebte,
Ask my beloved
Die unter euch ruhet,
Who dwells among you
Ob in ihrem Glücke
If in her happiness
Sie meiner gedenket.
She thinks of me.

Und ihr tauigen Perlen,
And you dewy pearls,
Die ihr im Frührot
Who in the rosy dawn
Den grünenden Rasen
Adorn the green grass
Bunt mit Farben schmückt,
With many bright colours—
Fraget die Geliebte,
Ask my beloved,
Wenn sie Kühlung atmet,
When she breathes the cool air,
Ob in ihrem Glücke
If in her happiness
Sie meiner gedenket.
She thinks of me.

Ihr laubigen Pappeln,
You leafy poplars,
Schimmernde Pfade,
Shimmering paths,
Wo leichten Fusses
Where with light tread
Mein Mädchen wandelt,
My girl roams—
Wenn sie euch begegnet,
When she meets you,
Fragt sie, fragt sie,
Ask her, ask her
Ob in ihrem Glücke
If in her happiness
Sie meiner gedenket.
She thinks of me.

Ihr schwärmenden Vögel,
You swarming birds,
Die den Sonnenaufgang
Who greet the sunrise
Singend ihr begrüsset
With flute-like
Mit Flötenstimmen,
Songs—
Fraget die Geliebte,
Ask my beloved,
Dieses Ufers Blume,
The flower of this shore,
Ob in ihrem Glücke
If in her happiness
Sie meiner gedenket.
She thinks of me.

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…

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