Zwielicht
German source:
Joseph von Eichendorff
Schaurig rühren sich die Bäume,
Wolken ziehn wie schwere Träume—
Was will dieses Graun bedeuten?
Hast ein Reh du lieb vor andern,
Laß es nicht alleine grasen,
Jäger ziehn im Wald und blasen,
Stimmen hin und wieder wandern.
Hast du einen Freund hienieden,
Trau ihm nicht zu dieser Stunde,
Freundlich wohl mit Aug’ und Munde,
Sinnt er Krieg im tück’schen Frieden.
Was heut gehet müde unter,
Hebt sich morgen neugeboren.
Manches geht in Nacht verloren—
Hüte dich, sei wach und munter!
Twilight
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
The trees now shudder and stir,
Clouds drift by like oppressive dreams—
What can this dusk and dread imply?
If you have a fawn you favour,
Do not let her graze alone,
Hunters sound their horns through the forest,
Voices wander to and fro.
If here on earth you have a friend,
Do not trust him at this hour,
Though his eyes and lips be smiling,
In treacherous peace he’s scheming war.
That which wearily sets today,
Will rise tomorrow, newly born.
Much can go lost in the night—
Be wary, watchful, on your guard!
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Zwielicht
German source:
Joseph von Eichendorff
Twilight
English source:
Richard Stokes
Dämmrung will die Flügel spreiten,
Dusk is about to spread its wings,
Schaurig rühren sich die Bäume,
The trees now shudder and stir,
Wolken ziehn wie schwere Träume—
Clouds drift by like oppressive dreams—
Was will dieses Graun bedeuten?
What can this dusk and dread imply?
Hast ein Reh du lieb vor andern,
If you have a fawn you favour,
Laß es nicht alleine grasen,
Do not let her graze alone,
Jäger ziehn im Wald und blasen,
Hunters sound their horns through the forest,
Stimmen hin und wieder wandern.
Voices wander to and fro.
Hast du einen Freund hienieden,
If here on earth you have a friend,
Trau ihm nicht zu dieser Stunde,
Do not trust him at this hour,
Freundlich wohl mit Aug’ und Munde,
Though his eyes and lips be smiling,
Sinnt er Krieg im tück’schen Frieden.
In treacherous peace he’s scheming war.
Was heut gehet müde unter,
That which wearily sets today,
Hebt sich morgen neugeboren.
Will rise tomorrow, newly born.
Manches geht in Nacht verloren—
Much can go lost in the night—
Hüte dich, sei wach und munter!
Be wary, watchful, on your guard!
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
Joseph von Eichendorff
Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff was a German poet, novelist, playwright, literary critic, translator, and anthologist. Eichendorff was one of the major writers and critics of Romanticism. Ever since their publication and up to the present day, some…
Performances
Previously performed at:
- Concerto Grosso 17 Oct 2023
- Die schöne Magelone: Thomas Oliemans & Malcolm Martineau 25 Oct 2018
- Bach Revived Part II 21 Oct 2016
- The Life & Times of Robert Schumann Session I 15 Oct 2016