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Songs

Songs

Tränenregen (1823)

Part of a series or song cycle:

Die schöne Müllerin (D795 (Op.25))

Tränenregen

Wilhelm Müller

Wir sassen so traulich beisammen
Im kühlen Erlendach,
Wir schauten so traulich zusammen 
Hinab in den rieselnden Bach.
Der Mond war auch gekommen,
Die Sternlein hinterdrein,
Und schauten so traulich zusammen 
In den silbernen Spiegel hinein.
Ich sah nach keinem Monde, 
Nach keinem Sternenschein, 
Ich schaute nach ihrem Bilde, 
Nach ihren Augen allein.
Und sahe sie nicken und blicken 
Herauf aus dem seligen Bach,
Die Blümlein am Ufer, die blauen, 
Sie nickten und blickten ihr nach.
Und in den Bach versunken 
Der ganze Himmel schien, 
Und wollte mich mit hinunter 
In seine Tiefe ziehn.
Und über den Wolken und Sternen 
Da rieselte munter der Bach,
Und rief mit Singen und Klingen: 
„Geselle, Geselle, mir nach!“
Da gingen die Augen mir über,
Da ward es im Spiegel so kraus; 
Sie sprach: „Es kommt ein Regen, 
Ade, ich geh’ nach Haus.“

Shower of tears

English Translation © Richard Wigmore

We sat together in such harmony 
beneath the cool canopy of alders, 
and in harmony gazed down
into the rippling brook.
The moon had appeared too, 
and then the stars.
They gazed down in harmony 
into the silvery mirror.
I did not look at the moon;
I did not look at the stars.
I gazed only at her reflection, 
and her eyes.
I saw them nod and gaze up 
from the happy brook;
the little blue flowers on the bank 
nodded and glanced at her.
The whole sky seemed 
immersed in the brook
and sought to drag me down 
into its depths.
Above the clouds and stars
the brook rippled merrily,
and called me with its singing and ringing: 
‘Friend, follow me!’
Then my eyes filled with tears 
and the mirror became blurred. 
She said: ‘It’s about to rain. 
Goodbye. I’m going home.’
Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition

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.

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Poet

Wilhelm Müller

Johann Ludwig Wilhelm Müller was a German lyric poet.
Wilhelm Müller was born on October 7, 1794 at Dessau, the son of a tailor. He was educated at the gymnasium of his native town and at the University of Berlin, where he devoted himself to philological and historical studies. In 1813-1814 he took part, as a volunteer in the Prussian army, in the national rising against Napoleon. He participated in the battles of Lützen, Bautzen, Hanau and Kulm. In 1814 he returned to his studies at Berlin. From 1817 to 1819, he visited southern Germany and Italy, and in 1820 published his impressions of the latter in Rom, Römer und Römerinnen. In 1819, he was appointed teacher of classics in the Gelehrtenschule at Dessau, and in 1820 librarian to the ducal library. He remained there the rest of his life, dying of a heart attack aged only 32.

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