Songs
Ständchen
by Robert Schumann From Sechs Gedichte aus dem Liederbuch eines Malers (1840) Op. 36 22–23.vii & viii.1840
Ständchen
German source:
Robert Reinick
Liebchen, was zögerst du?
Sonne ging längst zur Ruh’,
Welt schloß die Augen zu,
Rings nur einzig die Liebe wacht!
Liebchen, was zögerst du?
Schon sind die Sterne hell,
Schon ist der Mond zur Stell’,
Eilen so schnell, so schnell!
Liebchen, mein Liebchen, drum eil’ auch du!
Einzig die Liebe wacht,
Ruft dich allüberall.
Höre die Nachtigall,
Hör meiner Stimme Schall,
Liebchen, o komm in die stille Nacht!
Serenade
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Why delay, my dearest?
The sun has set long ago,
The world has closed its eyes.
Love alone keeps watch around us!
Why delay, my dearest?
Already the stars are bright,
Already the moon’s at her post,
They make such haste, such haste!
Dearest, my dearest, so make haste too!
Love alone keeps watch,
Calling for you everywhere;
Listen to the nightingale,
Listen to my voice ring out,
Dearest, O come into the silent night!
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Ständchen
German source:
Robert Reinick
Serenade
English source:
Richard Stokes
Komm’ in die stille Nacht!—
Come into the silent night!—
Liebchen, was zögerst du?
Why delay, my dearest?
Sonne ging längst zur Ruh’,
The sun has set long ago,
Welt schloß die Augen zu,
The world has closed its eyes.
Rings nur einzig die Liebe wacht!
Love alone keeps watch around us!
Liebchen, was zögerst du?
Why delay, my dearest?
Schon sind die Sterne hell,
Already the stars are bright,
Schon ist der Mond zur Stell’,
Already the moon’s at her post,
Eilen so schnell, so schnell!
They make such haste, such haste!
Liebchen, mein Liebchen, drum eil’ auch du!
Dearest, my dearest, so make haste too!
Einzig die Liebe wacht,
Love alone keeps watch,
Ruft dich allüberall.
Calling for you everywhere;
Höre die Nachtigall,
Listen to the nightingale,
Hör meiner Stimme Schall,
Listen to my voice ring out,
Liebchen, o komm in die stille Nacht!
Dearest, O come into the silent night!
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
Robert Reinick
Robert Reinick was a German painter and poet, associated with the Düsseldorf school of painting. One of his poems, Dem Vaterland, was set to music by Hugo Wolf. Reinick was born in Danzig (Gdańsk) and died in Dresden. Taken from Wikipedia. To view…