Songs

Klage

by Franz Schubert

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Text & Translation

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Klage (1816)
German source: Matthison, Friedrich von

Die Sonne steigt, die Sonne sinkt,
Des Mondes Wechselscheibe blinkt,
Des Äthers Blau durchwebt mit Glanz
Der Sterne goldner Reihentanz;
Doch es durchströmt der Sonne Licht,
Des Mondes lächelndes Gesicht,
Der Sterne Reigen, still und hehr,
Mit Hochgefühl dies Herz nicht mehr!

Die Wiese blüht, der Büsche Grün
Ertönt von Frühlingsmelodien,
Es wallt der Bach im Abendstrahl
Hinab ins hainumkränzte Tal:
Doch es erhebt der Haine Lied,
Die Au, die tausendfarbig blüht,
Der Erlenbach im Abendlicht
Wie vormals meine Seele nicht!

Lament
English translation © Richard Wigmore

The sun rises, the sun sinks,
the moon’s ever-changing disc gleams,
the blue ether is shot through
with the brilliant, golden dance of the stars.
But the sun’s light,
the moon’s smiling countenance,
the dance of the stars, silent and sublime,
no longer flood this heart with elation.

The meadow blooms, the green bushes
echo with spring melodies;
in the evening sunlight the brook
gushes down into the wooded valley.
But the song of the woods,
the meadow, blooming with a thousand colours,
the alders by the brook in the twilight,
do not uplift my soul as they once did.

Klage (1816)
German source: Matthison, Friedrich von

Lament
English source: Richard Wigmore

Die Sonne steigt, die Sonne sinkt,
The sun rises, the sun sinks,
Des Mondes Wechselscheibe blinkt,
the moon’s ever-changing disc gleams,
Des Äthers Blau durchwebt mit Glanz
the blue ether is shot through
Der Sterne goldner Reihentanz;
with the brilliant, golden dance of the stars.
Doch es durchströmt der Sonne Licht,
But the sun’s light,
Des Mondes lächelndes Gesicht,
the moon’s smiling countenance,
Der Sterne Reigen, still und hehr,
the dance of the stars, silent and sublime,
Mit Hochgefühl dies Herz nicht mehr!
no longer flood this heart with elation.

Die Wiese blüht, der Büsche Grün
The meadow blooms, the green bushes
Ertönt von Frühlingsmelodien,
echo with spring melodies;
Es wallt der Bach im Abendstrahl
in the evening sunlight the brook
Hinab ins hainumkränzte Tal:
gushes down into the wooded valley.
Doch es erhebt der Haine Lied,
But the song of the woods,
Die Au, die tausendfarbig blüht,
the meadow, blooming with a thousand colours,
Der Erlenbach im Abendlicht
the alders by the brook in the twilight,
Wie vormals meine Seele nicht!
do not uplift my soul as they once did.

Composer

Franz Schubert

Franz Peter Schubert was an late Classical and early Romantic composer. He produced a vast oeuvre during his short life, composing more the 600 vocal works (largely Lieder), and well as several symphonies, operas, and a large body of piano music. He…

Poet

Matthison, Friedrich von

Friedrich von Matthisson was a German poet, an early member of the German Romantic movement. His best known poem is probably Adelaide, which was set to music by Beethoven. He was born at Hohendodeleben near Magdeburg, the son of the village pastor,…

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