Songs
Wiegenlied am Lager eines kranken Kindes
by Robert Schumann From Vier Duette (1849) Op. 78 25.viii– 4.ix.1849
Wiegenlied am Lager eines kranken Kindes
German source:
Christian Friedrich Hebbel
Wie du schläfst, so bist du brav!
Draussen rot im Mittagsscheine,
Glüht der schönsten Kirschen eine,
Wenn du aufwachst, gehen wir,
Und mein Finger pflückt sie dir.
Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf,
Wie du schläfst, so bist du brav!
Immer süsser kocht die Sonne,
Deine Kirsche, dir zu Wonne,
Schlaf denn, Kindlein, leicht bedeckt,
Bis der Durst nach ihr dich weckt.
Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf,
Wie du schläfst, so bist du brav!
Lullaby by the bed of a sick child
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Good child to sleep so sound!
Outside in the noonday light
The fairest of cherries is glowing red.
When you wake, you and I shall go,
And with my fingers I’ll pick it for you.
Sleep, little one, sleep!
Good child to sleep so sound.
Sweeter and sweeter in the sun
Your cherry’s ripening for you,
Sleep then, little one, lightly wrapped,
Till you wake with thirst for it.
Sleep, little one, sleep!
Good child to sleep so sound!
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Wiegenlied am Lager eines kranken Kindes
German source:
Christian Friedrich Hebbel
Lullaby by the bed of a sick child
English source:
Richard Stokes
Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf,
Sleep, little one, sleep!
Wie du schläfst, so bist du brav!
Good child to sleep so sound!
Draussen rot im Mittagsscheine,
Outside in the noonday light
Glüht der schönsten Kirschen eine,
The fairest of cherries is glowing red.
Wenn du aufwachst, gehen wir,
When you wake, you and I shall go,
Und mein Finger pflückt sie dir.
And with my fingers I’ll pick it for you.
Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf,
Sleep, little one, sleep!
Wie du schläfst, so bist du brav!
Good child to sleep so sound.
Immer süsser kocht die Sonne,
Sweeter and sweeter in the sun
Deine Kirsche, dir zu Wonne,
Your cherry’s ripening for you,
Schlaf denn, Kindlein, leicht bedeckt,
Sleep then, little one, lightly wrapped,
Bis der Durst nach ihr dich weckt.
Till you wake with thirst for it.
Schlaf, Kindlein, schlaf,
Sleep, little one, sleep!
Wie du schläfst, so bist du brav!
Good child to sleep so sound!
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
Christian Friedrich Hebbel
Christian Friedrich Hebbel, was a German poet and dramatist. Hebbel was born at Wesselburen in Ditmarschen, Holstein, the son of a bricklayer. He was educated at the Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums. Despite his humble origins, he showed a talent for…