Songs

Mignon „Kennst du das Land?“

by Robert Schumann From Lieder-Album für die Jugend (1849) Op. 79 21.iv–13.v.1849

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This song was recorded live in The Jacqueline du Pré Music Building, St Hilda’s College as part of the Oxford Lieder Festival in 2006.
Click here to listen to this song performed by Sophie Daneman and Julius Drake.



Text & Translation

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Mignon „Kennst du das Land?“
German source: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Kennst du das Land, wo die Zitronen blühn,
Im dunkeln Laub die Gold-Orangen glühn,
Ein sanfter Wind vom blauen Himmel weht,
Die Myrte still und hoch der Lorbeer steht?
Kennst du es wohl?
Dahin! dahin
Möcht’ ich mit dir, o mein Geliebter, ziehn.

Kennst du das Haus? Auf Säulen ruht sein Dach.
Es glänzt der Saal, es schimmert das Gemach,
Und Marmorbilder stehn und sehn mich an:
Was hat man dir, du armes Kind, getan?
Kennst du es wohl?
Dahin! dahin
Möcht’ ich mit dir, o mein Beschützer, ziehn.

Kennst du den Berg und seinen Wolkensteg?
Das Maultier sucht im Nebel seinen Weg;
In Höhlen wohnt der Drachen alte Brut;
Es stürzt der Fels und über ihn die Flut!
Kennst du ihn wohl?
Dahin! dahin
Geht unser Weg! O Vater, laß uns ziehn!

Mignon
English translation © Richard Stokes

Do you know the land where the lemons blossom,
Where oranges grow golden among dark leaves,
A gentle wind drifts from the blue sky,
The myrtle stands silent, the laurel tall,
Do you know it?
It is there, it is there
I long to go with you, my love.

Do you know the house? Columns support its roof,
Its great hall gleams, its apartments shimmer,
And marble statues stand and stare at me:
What have they done to you, poor child?
Do you know it?
It is there, it is there
I long to go with you, my protector.

Do you know the mountain and its cloudy path?
The mule seeks its way through the mist,
Caverns house the dragons’ ancient brood;
The rock falls sheer, the torrent over it,
Do you know it?
It is there, it is there
Our pathway lies! O father, let us go!

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

Mignon „Kennst du das Land?“
German source: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Mignon
English source: Richard Stokes

Kennst du das Land, wo die Zitronen blühn,
Do you know the land where the lemons blossom,
Im dunkeln Laub die Gold-Orangen glühn,
Where oranges grow golden among dark leaves,
Ein sanfter Wind vom blauen Himmel weht,
A gentle wind drifts from the blue sky,
Die Myrte still und hoch der Lorbeer steht?
The myrtle stands silent, the laurel tall,
Kennst du es wohl?
Do you know it?
Dahin! dahin
It is there, it is there
Möcht’ ich mit dir, o mein Geliebter, ziehn.
I long to go with you, my love.

Kennst du das Haus? Auf Säulen ruht sein Dach.
Do you know the house? Columns support its roof,
Es glänzt der Saal, es schimmert das Gemach,
Its great hall gleams, its apartments shimmer,
Und Marmorbilder stehn und sehn mich an:
And marble statues stand and stare at me:
Was hat man dir, du armes Kind, getan?
What have they done to you, poor child?
Kennst du es wohl?
Do you know it?
Dahin! dahin
It is there, it is there
Möcht’ ich mit dir, o mein Beschützer, ziehn.
I long to go with you, my protector.

Kennst du den Berg und seinen Wolkensteg?
Do you know the mountain and its cloudy path?
Das Maultier sucht im Nebel seinen Weg;
The mule seeks its way through the mist,
In Höhlen wohnt der Drachen alte Brut;
Caverns house the dragons’ ancient brood;
Es stürzt der Fels und über ihn die Flut!
The rock falls sheer, the torrent over it,
Kennst du ihn wohl?
Do you know it?
Dahin! dahin
It is there, it is there
Geht unser Weg! O Vater, laß uns ziehn!
Our pathway lies! O father, let us go!

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

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Johann Wolfgang Goethe was a German writer and statesman. His body of work includes epic and lyric poetry written in a variety of metres and styles; prose and verse dramas; memoirs; an autobiography; literary and aesthetic criticism; treatises on…

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