Songs
In dem weiten, breiten, luft'gen Leinenkleide
by Antonín Dvořák From Zigeunermelodien (1880) Op. 55
In dem weiten, breiten, luft'gen Leinenkleide
German source:
Adolf Heyduk
freier der Zigeuner als in Gold und Seide!
Ja! der gold'ne Dolman schnürt die Brust zu enge,
hemmt des freien Liedes wanderfrohe Klänge.
Wer beim Schwung der Lieder wahre Lust empfindet,
wünscht, daß alles Gold jetzt aus der Welt verschwindet!
In his loose-fitting and airy linen clothes
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
The gypsy feels freer than when dressed in silk and gold!
Yes! The golden dolman constricts his breast,
Smothers the happily wandering strains of his free song.
He who feels true joy when these songs resound,
Wishes that all gold should vanish from the face of the earth.
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
In dem weiten, breiten, luft'gen Leinenkleide
German source:
Adolf Heyduk
In his loose-fitting and airy linen clothes
English source:
Richard Stokes
In dem weiten, breiten, luft'gen Leinenkleide
In his loose-fitting and airy linen clothes
freier der Zigeuner als in Gold und Seide!
The gypsy feels freer than when dressed in silk and gold!
Ja! der gold'ne Dolman schnürt die Brust zu enge,
Yes! The golden dolman constricts his breast,
hemmt des freien Liedes wanderfrohe Klänge.
Smothers the happily wandering strains of his free song.
Wer beim Schwung der Lieder wahre Lust empfindet,
He who feels true joy when these songs resound,
wünscht, daß alles Gold jetzt aus der Welt verschwindet!
Wishes that all gold should vanish from the face of the earth.
Composer
Antonín Dvořák
Antonín Leopold Dvořák (8 September 1841 – 1 May 1904) was a Czech composer, one of the first to achieve worldwide recognition. He frequently employed rhythms and other aspects of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia. Read his full…
