Songs

Die Taubenpost (1828) D965a

Part of a series or song cycle:

Schwanengesang (D957)

This song was recorded on the album 'Schubert Year by Year' on Stone Records, in preparation for Oxford Lieder's 2014 The Schubert Project, the first ever complete performance of Schubert's songs in a single festival. It features one song from each year of Schubert's creative life.

Click here to listen to the song with James Gilchrist and Sholto Kynoch, or click here to buy the CD from Stone Records.

Die Taubenpost

Johann Gabriel Seidl

Ich hab’ eine Brieftaub in meinem Sold,

Die ist gar ergeben und treu,

Sie nimmt mir nie das Ziel zu kurz,

Und fliegt auch nie vorbei.

Ich sende sie vieltausendmal

Auf Kundschaft täglich hinaus,

Vorbei an manchem lieben Ort,

Bis zu der Liebsten Haus.

Dort schaut sie zum Fenster heimlich hinein,

Belauscht ihren Blick und Schritt,

Gibt meine Grüsse scherzend ab

Und nimmt die ihren mit.

Kein Briefchen brauch’ ich zu schreiben mehr,

Die Träne selbst geb’ ich ihr:

O sie verträgt sie sicher nicht,

Gar eifrig dient sie mir.

Bei Tag, bei Nacht, im Wachen, im Traum,

Ihr gilt das alles gleich:

Wenn sie nur wandern, wandern kann,

Dann ist sie überreich!

Sie wird nicht müd’, sie wird nicht matt,

Der Weg ist stets ihr neu;

Sie braucht nicht Lockung, braucht nicht Lohn,

Die Taub’ ist so mir treu!

Drum heg’ ich sie auch so treu an der Brust,

Versichert des schönsten Gewinns;

Sie heisst – die Sehnsucht! Kennt ihr sie?

Die Botin treuen Sinn's.

Pigeon post

English Translation © Richard Wigmore

I have a carrier pigeon in my pay,

devoted and true;

she never stops short of her goal

and never flies too far.

Each day I send her out

a thousand times on reconnaissance,

past many a beloved spot,

to my sweetheart’s house.

There she peeps furtively in at the window,

observing her every look and step,

conveys my greeting breezily,

and brings hers back to me.

I no longer need to write a note,

I can give her my very tears;

she will certainly not deliver them wrongly,

so eagerly does she serve me.

Day or night, awake or dreaming,

it is all the same to her;

as long as she can roam

she is richly contented.

She never grows tired or faint,

the route is always fresh to her;

she needs no enticement or reward,

so true is this pigeon to me.

I cherish her as truly in my heart,

certain of the fairest prize;

her name is – Longing! Do you know her?

The messenger of constancy.

First published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition

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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 was uncommonly gifted from a young age, but appreciation of his music was limited during his lifetime. His work became more popular in the decades after his death, and was praised by 19th century composers, including Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms, and Liszt.

Information from Wikipedia. Read more here.

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