This song was recorded on the album 'Schubert Year by Year' on Stone Records, in preparation for Oxford Lieder's 2014 The Schubert Project, the first ever complete performance of Schubert's songs in a single festival. It features one song from each year of Schubert's creative life.
Click here to listen to the song with Mary Bevan and Sholto Kynoch, or click here to buy the CD from Stone Records.
Text & Translation
Nachtviolen
German source:
Johann Mayrhofer
Dunkle Augen, seelenvolle,
Selig ist es, sich versenken
In dem samtnen Blau.
Grüne Blätter streben freudig,
Euch zu hellen, euch zu schmücken;
Doch ihr blicket ernst und schweigend
In die laue Frühlingsluft.
Mit erhabnen Wehmutsstrahlen
Trafet ihr mein treues Herz,
Und nun blüht in stummen Nächten,
Fort die heilige Verbindung.
Dame's Violets
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
dark, soulful eyes,
it is blissful to immerse myself
in your velvety blue.
Green leaves strive joyously
to brighten you, to adorn you;
but you gaze, solemn and silent,
into the mild spring air.
With sublime shafts of melancholy
you have pierced my faithful heart,
and now, in silent nights,
our sacred union blossoms.
Nachtviolen
German source:
Johann Mayrhofer
Dame's Violets
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Nachtviolen, Nachtviolen,
Dame’s violets,
Dunkle Augen, seelenvolle,
dark, soulful eyes,
Selig ist es, sich versenken
it is blissful to immerse myself
In dem samtnen Blau.
in your velvety blue.
Grüne Blätter streben freudig,
Green leaves strive joyously
Euch zu hellen, euch zu schmücken;
to brighten you, to adorn you;
Doch ihr blicket ernst und schweigend
but you gaze, solemn and silent,
In die laue Frühlingsluft.
into the mild spring air.
Mit erhabnen Wehmutsstrahlen
With sublime shafts of melancholy
Trafet ihr mein treues Herz,
you have pierced my faithful heart,
Und nun blüht in stummen Nächten,
and now, in silent nights,
Fort die heilige Verbindung.
our sacred union blossoms.
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
Johann Mayrhofer
Johann Baptist Mayrhofer , was an Austrian poet and librettist. He is best known for his close friendship with the composer Franz Schubert. Mayrhofer was born in Steyr, educated and Novitiate in St. Florian's Priory Upper Austria. In 1810 he began…