Songs
Totengräbers Heimweh
(1825)
D842
Totengräbers Heimweh
O Menschheit, o Leben! -Was soll's? o was soll's?!Grabe aus - scharre zu! Tag und Nacht keine Ruh! - Das Treiben, das Drängen -Wohin? - o wohin? - -"Ins Grab - tief hinab!"O Schicksal - o traurige PflichtIch trag's länger nicht! - -Wann wirst du mir schlagen, O Stunde der Ruh?!O Tod! komm und drücke Die Augen mir zu! - -Im Leben, da ist's ach! so schwül!Im Grabe - so friedlich, so kühl!Doch ach, wer legt mich hinein? - Ich stehe allein! - so ganz allein!! -Von allen verlassenDem Tod nur verwandt,Verweil' ich am Rande -Das Kreuz in der Hand,Und starre mit sehnendem Blick,Hinab - ins tiefe Grab! - O Heimat des Friedens, Der Seligen Land!An dich knüpft die Seele Ein magisches Band. - Du winkst mir von Ferne, Du ewiges Licht:Es schwinden die Sterne - Das Auge schon bricht! - -Ich sinke - ich sinke! - Ihr Lieben, - Ich komm! - - -
Gravedigger's longing
O mankind – O life! –To what end – oh what end?!Digging out – filling in!Day and night no rest! –The urgency, the haste –Where does it lead! – ah where?! - -‘Deep down – into the grave!’ –O fate – O sad duty –I can bear it no more! - -When will you toll for me, O hour of peace?! –O death! ComeAnd close my eyes! - -Life, alas, is so oppressive! –The grave so peaceful, so cool!But ah! Who will lay me there? –I stand alone! – so utterly alone!! – Abandoned by all,With death my only kin,I linger on the edge –Cross in hand, And stare longingly Down – into the deep grave! –O homeland of peace,Land of the blessed!A magic bondBinds my soul to you. –Eternal light,You beckon me from afar: - The stars vanish –My eyes close in death! - - I am sinking – I am sinking! – Loved ones – I come! - - -
Translation © Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.
Composer
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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Poet
Jacob Nicolaus Craigher de Jachelutta was an Austrian poet and translator.
He met Schubert in 1825 and gave him three of his poems to set, Die junge Nonne (D828), Totengräbers Heimwehe (D842), and Der blinde Knabe (D833), which was his translation of The Blind Boy by the English playwright and Poet Laureate, Colley Cibber.
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Sorry, no further description available.
Previously performed at:
- 11 Oct 2020: 11. The West-Eastern Divan: Ian Bostridge & Julius Drake
-
- 22 Oct 2019: 61. Forest Twilight: Sophie Karthäuser, Stephan Loges & Eugene Asti
-
- 11 Mar 2018: A Schubertiade
-
- 23 Oct 2017: Mastercourse Day One
-
- 17 Oct 2017: Serious Songs: Ashley Riches & Sholto Kynoch
-
Totengräbers Heimweh
Gravedigger's longing
If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.
Composer
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.
See Full Entry
Poet
Jacob Nicolaus Craigher de Jachelutta was an Austrian poet and translator.
He met Schubert in 1825 and gave him three of his poems to set, Die junge Nonne (D828), Totengräbers Heimwehe (D842), and Der blinde Knabe (D833), which was his translation of The Blind Boy by the English playwright and Poet Laureate, Colley Cibber.
See Full Entry
Sorry, no further description available.
Previously performed at:
- 11 Oct 2020: 11. The West-Eastern Divan: Ian Bostridge & Julius Drake
- 22 Oct 2019: 61. Forest Twilight: Sophie Karthäuser, Stephan Loges & Eugene Asti
- 11 Mar 2018: A Schubertiade
- 23 Oct 2017: Mastercourse Day One
- 17 Oct 2017: Serious Songs: Ashley Riches & Sholto Kynoch
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