Songs
Frage
by Robert Schumann From Zwölf Gedichte von Justinus Kerner (1840) Op. 35 20–25.xi & 6–29.xii.1840
Frage
German source:
Justinus Kerner
Wärst du nicht, sternerhellte Nacht!
Du Blütenschmuck! Du üpp’ger Hain!
Und du, Gebirg’ voll ernster Pracht!
Du Vogelsang aus Himmeln hoch!
Du Lied aus voller Menschenbrust,
Wärst du nicht, ach, was füllte noch
In arger Zeit ein Herz mit Lust?
Question
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
And you, star-illumined night,
Adorning blossoms, luxuriant wood,
You, mountains, filled with solemn glory,
You, song of birds from heaven on high,
You, song from a full human heart,
If you were not, ah, what still would fill
A heart with joy in adversity?
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Frage
German source:
Justinus Kerner
Question
English source:
Richard Stokes
Wärst du nicht, heil’ger Abendschein!
If you, holy evening star, were not,
Wärst du nicht, sternerhellte Nacht!
And you, star-illumined night,
Du Blütenschmuck! Du üpp’ger Hain!
Adorning blossoms, luxuriant wood,
Und du, Gebirg’ voll ernster Pracht!
You, mountains, filled with solemn glory,
Du Vogelsang aus Himmeln hoch!
You, song of birds from heaven on high,
Du Lied aus voller Menschenbrust,
You, song from a full human heart,
Wärst du nicht, ach, was füllte noch
If you were not, ah, what still would fill
In arger Zeit ein Herz mit Lust?
A heart with joy in adversity?
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
Justinus Kerner
Justinus Andreas Christian Kerner was a German poet, practicing physician, and medical writer. He was born at Ludwigsburg in Württemberg. After attending the classical schools of Ludwigsburg and Maulbronn, he was apprenticed in a cloth factory,…