Songs
O Freund, mein Schirm, mein Schutz!
by Robert Schumann From Minnespiel (1849) Op. 101 1–5.vi.1849
This song was recorded on the album 'Robert and Clara Schumann: Rückert Lieder' on Stone Records (in collaboration with BBC Music Magazine). Featuring every piano-accompanied setting of the poet Friedrich Rückert by both Robert and Clara Schumann, including duets and ensembles, it was recorded in preparation for Oxford Lieder's The Schumann Project in 2016.
Click here to listen to this song with Katie Bray and Sholto Kynoch, or click here to buy the CD from Stone Records.
O Freund, mein Schirm, mein Schutz!
German source:
Friedrich Rückert
O Freund, mein Schmuck, mein Putz!
Mein Stolz, mein Trost, mein Trutz!
Mein Bollwerk, o mein Schild!
Wo’s einen Kampf mir gilt,
Flücht ich mich zu deinem Bild.
Wenn mich in Jammerschlucht
Die Welt zu drängen sucht,
Nehm ich zu dir die Flucht;
Ob sie mir Bittres bot,
Mit Bittrerem mir droht,
So klag ich dir die Not.
Du schickest ohn’ ein Wort
Des Trostes mich nicht fort,
Du bist und bleibst mein Hort.
Der Erde Weh ist Scherz,
Hier leg ich an dein Herz
Mich selbst und meinen Schmerz.
O Welt, was du mir tust,
Ich such in stiller Lust
An meines Freundes Brust.
O friend, my shelter, my protection!
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
O friend, my jewel, my ornament!
My pride, my comfort, my courage!
My bastion, O my shield!
When battle calls me,
I take refuge with you.
When the world seeks to hem
Me in with deep grief,
I fly to you.
Though it offers me bitterness,
Threatens me with more bitterness,
I cry to you my need.
You do not send me away
Without a word of comfort,
You are and shall remain my haven.
The earth’s woes are mere jest,
Here upon your heart I lay
Myself and my pain.
O world, whatever you do to me,
I shall rest in silent joy
On my friend’s heart.
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
O Freund, mein Schirm, mein Schutz!
German source:
Friedrich Rückert
O friend, my shelter, my protection!
English source:
Richard Stokes
O Freund, mein Schirm, mein Schutz!
O friend, my shelter, my protection!
O Freund, mein Schmuck, mein Putz!
O friend, my jewel, my ornament!
Mein Stolz, mein Trost, mein Trutz!
My pride, my comfort, my courage!
Mein Bollwerk, o mein Schild!
My bastion, O my shield!
Wo’s einen Kampf mir gilt,
When battle calls me,
Flücht ich mich zu deinem Bild.
I take refuge with you.
Wenn mich in Jammerschlucht
When the world seeks to hem
Die Welt zu drängen sucht,
Me in with deep grief,
Nehm ich zu dir die Flucht;
I fly to you.
Ob sie mir Bittres bot,
Though it offers me bitterness,
Mit Bittrerem mir droht,
Threatens me with more bitterness,
So klag ich dir die Not.
I cry to you my need.
Du schickest ohn’ ein Wort
You do not send me away
Des Trostes mich nicht fort,
Without a word of comfort,
Du bist und bleibst mein Hort.
You are and shall remain my haven.
Der Erde Weh ist Scherz,
The earth’s woes are mere jest,
Hier leg ich an dein Herz
Here upon your heart I lay
Mich selbst und meinen Schmerz.
Myself and my pain.
O Welt, was du mir tust,
O world, whatever you do to me,
Ich such in stiller Lust
I shall rest in silent joy
An meines Freundes Brust.
On my friend’s heart.
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
Friedrich Rückert
Friedrich Rückert was a German poet, translator, and professor of Oriental languages. Rückert was born at Schweinfurt and was the eldest son of a lawyer. He was educated at the local Gymnasium and at the universities of Würzburg and Heidelberg.…