Listen to Franz Schubert's setting of 'Ständchen' below, performed by Christoph Prégardien and Michael Gees as part of the 2020 Oxford Lieder Festival.
Ständchen (trans. for guitar by Bernardo Rambeaud)
German source:
Rellstab, Ludwig
Durch die Nacht zu Dir;
In den stillen Hain hernieder,
Liebchen, komm’ zu mir!
Flüsternd schlanke Wipfel rauschen
In des Mondes Licht;
Des Verräters feindlich Lauschen
Fürchte, Holde, nicht.
Hörst die Nachtigallen schlagen?
Ach! sie flehen Dich,
Mit der Töne süssen Klagen
Flehen sie für mich.
Sie verstehn des Busens Sehnen,
Kennen Liebesschmerz,
Rühren mit den Silbertönen
Jedes weiche Herz.
Lass auch Dir die Brust bewegen,
Liebchen, höre mich!
Bebend harr’ ich Dir entgegen!
Komm’, beglücke mich!
Serenade
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
through the night to you;
down into the silent grove,
beloved, come to me!
Slender treetops whisper and rustle
in the moonlight;
my darling, do not fear
that the hostile betrayer will overhear us.
Do you not hear the nightingales call?
Ah, they are imploring you;
with their sweet, plaintive songs
they are imploring for me.
They understand the heart’s yearning,
they know the pain of love;
with their silvery notes
they touch every tender heart.
Let your heart, too, be moved,
beloved, hear me!
Trembling, I await you!
Come, make me happy!
Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition
Ständchen (trans. for guitar by Bernardo Rambeaud)
German source:
Rellstab, Ludwig
Serenade
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Leise flehen meine Lieder
Softly my songs plead
Durch die Nacht zu Dir;
through the night to you;
In den stillen Hain hernieder,
down into the silent grove,
Liebchen, komm’ zu mir!
beloved, come to me!
Flüsternd schlanke Wipfel rauschen
Slender treetops whisper and rustle
In des Mondes Licht;
in the moonlight;
Des Verräters feindlich Lauschen
my darling, do not fear
Fürchte, Holde, nicht.
that the hostile betrayer will overhear us.
Hörst die Nachtigallen schlagen?
Do you not hear the nightingales call?
Ach! sie flehen Dich,
Ah, they are imploring you;
Mit der Töne süssen Klagen
with their sweet, plaintive songs
Flehen sie für mich.
they are imploring for me.
Sie verstehn des Busens Sehnen,
They understand the heart’s yearning,
Kennen Liebesschmerz,
they know the pain of love;
Rühren mit den Silbertönen
with their silvery notes
Jedes weiche Herz.
they touch every tender heart.
Lass auch Dir die Brust bewegen,
Let your heart, too, be moved,
Liebchen, höre mich!
beloved, hear me!
Bebend harr’ ich Dir entgegen!
Trembling, I await you!
Komm’, beglücke mich!
Come, make me happy!
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
Rellstab, Ludwig
Heinrich Friedrich Ludwig Rellstab was a German poet and music critic. He was born and died in Berlin. He was the son of the music publisher and composer Johann Carl Friedrich Rellstab. An able pianist, he published articles in various periodicals,…