Winterlied
German source:
Ludwig Christoph Heinrich Hölty
Nur das Wintergrün
Blickt durch Silberhüllen;
Nur das Fenster füllen
Blumen rot und weiss,
Aufgeblüht aus Eis.
Ach, kein Vogelsang
Tönt mit frohem Klang,
Nur die Winterweise
Jener kleinen Meise,
Die am Fenster schwirrt,
Und um Futter girrt.
Minne flieht den Hain,
Wo die Vögelein
Sonst im grünen Schatten
Ihre Nester hatten;
Minne flieht den Hain,
Kehrt ins Zimmer ein.
Kalter Januar,
Hier werd’ ich fürwahr
Unter Minnespielen
Deinen Frost nicht fühlen;
Walte immerdar,
Kalter Januar!
Winter song
English translation ©
Richard Wigmore
only the winter green
peeps through its silver mantle;
the window is filled
only with red and white flowers,
blossoming from the ice.
Ah, no birdsong
rings out with joyous tones;
only the wintry strains
of the titmouse
that flutters at the window
chirping for food.
Love flees the grove
where the birds
once made their nests
in the green shade;
love flees the grove
and comes into this room.
Cold January,
here, in truth,
among love games,
I shall not feel your frost.
Reign for ever,
cold January!
Winterlied
German source:
Ludwig Christoph Heinrich Hölty
Winter song
English source:
Richard Wigmore
Keine Blumen blühn,
No flowers bloom;
Nur das Wintergrün
only the winter green
Blickt durch Silberhüllen;
peeps through its silver mantle;
Nur das Fenster füllen
the window is filled
Blumen rot und weiss,
only with red and white flowers,
Aufgeblüht aus Eis.
blossoming from the ice.
Ach, kein Vogelsang
Ah, no birdsong
Tönt mit frohem Klang,
rings out with joyous tones;
Nur die Winterweise
only the wintry strains
Jener kleinen Meise,
of the titmouse
Die am Fenster schwirrt,
that flutters at the window
Und um Futter girrt.
chirping for food.
Minne flieht den Hain,
Love flees the grove
Wo die Vögelein
where the birds
Sonst im grünen Schatten
once made their nests
Ihre Nester hatten;
in the green shade;
Minne flieht den Hain,
love flees the grove
Kehrt ins Zimmer ein.
and comes into this room.
Kalter Januar,
Cold January,
Hier werd’ ich fürwahr
here, in truth,
Unter Minnespielen
among love games,
Deinen Frost nicht fühlen;
I shall not feel your frost.
Walte immerdar,
Reign for ever,
Kalter Januar!
cold January!
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
Ludwig Christoph Heinrich Hölty
Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty, was German poet who is considered the most gifted lyric poet of the Göttinger Hain, a group of young poets who saw themselves as heirs of the great lyric poet Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock and whose work was…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- 74. VENUE AND ARTIST CHANGE On the River 19 Oct 2021
- 01. Winter Words: Joshua Ellicott & Anna Tilbrook 27 Feb 2021