Songs
Hoch, hoch sind die Berge
by Robert Schumann From Spanische Liebeslieder (1849) Op. 138 31.iii–3.iv & 25.xi.1849
Hoch, hoch sind die Berge
German source:
Emanuel Geibel
Und steil ist ihr Pfad;
Die Brunnen sprühn Wasser,
Und rieseln ins Kraut.
O Mutter, o Mutter
Lieb Mütterlein du;
Dort, dort in die Berge
Mit den Gipfeln so stolz
Da ging eines Morgens
Mein süßester Freund.
Wohl rief ich zurück ihn
Mit Zeichen und Wort,
Wohl winkt’ ich mit allen
Fünf Fingern zurück—
Wohl rief ich zurück ihn
Mit Zeichen und Wort!
The mountains are high
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Its paths are sheer;
The fountains spray water
Which flows into the undergrowth.
O mother, O mother,
O dearest mother;
Up into those mountains
With their proud peaks
My sweetest friend
Departed one morning.
I called him back
With signs and words,
I waved him back
With every finger of my hand—
I called him back
With signs and words!
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Hoch, hoch sind die Berge
German source:
Emanuel Geibel
The mountains are high
English source:
Richard Stokes
Hoch, hoch sind die Berge,
The mountains are high,
Und steil ist ihr Pfad;
Its paths are sheer;
Die Brunnen sprühn Wasser,
The fountains spray water
Und rieseln ins Kraut.
Which flows into the undergrowth.
O Mutter, o Mutter
O mother, O mother,
Lieb Mütterlein du;
O dearest mother;
Dort, dort in die Berge
Up into those mountains
Mit den Gipfeln so stolz
With their proud peaks
Da ging eines Morgens
My sweetest friend
Mein süßester Freund.
Departed one morning.
Wohl rief ich zurück ihn
I called him back
Mit Zeichen und Wort,
With signs and words,
Wohl winkt’ ich mit allen
I waved him back
Fünf Fingern zurück—
With every finger of my hand—
Wohl rief ich zurück ihn
I called him back
Mit Zeichen und Wort!
With signs and words!
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…