Songs
Die Ulme zu Hirsau
(1899)
Op. 43 no.3
Die Ulme zu Hirsau
Zu Hirsau in den TrümmernDa wiegt ein UlmenbaumFrischgrünend seine KroneHoch überm Giebelsaum.Er wurzelt tief im GrundeVom alten Klosterbau;Er wölbt sich statt des DachesHinaus in Himmelsblau.Weil des Gemäuers EngeIhm Luft und Sonne nahm,So triebs ihn hoch und höher,Bis er zum Lichte kam.Es ragen die vier Wände,Als ob sie nur bestimmt,Den kühnen Wuchs zu schirmen,Der zu den Wolken klimmt.Wenn dort im grünen TaleIch einsam mich erging,Die Ulme wars, die hehre,Woran mein Sinnen hing.Wenn in dem dumpfen, stummenGetrümmer ich gelauscht,Da hat ihr reger WipfelIm Windesflug gerauscht.Ich sah ihn oft erglühenIm ersten Morgenstrahl;Ich sah ihn noch erleuchtet,Wenn schattig rings das Tal.Zu Wittenberg im KlosterWuchs auch ein solcher StraußUnd brach mit RiesenästenZum Klausendach hinaus.O Strahl des Lichts, du dringestHinab in jede Gruft.O Geist der Welt, du ringestHinauf in Licht und Luft.
The elm tree at Hirsau
At Hirsau, in the ruins,An elm tree sways Its freshly greening canopyHigh above the gable.Its roots strike deep in the foundationsOf the old monastery;It spreads its branches, as a roof,Up into the blue sky.Because the constricting ruinDeprived it of air and sun,It soared higher and higherUntil it reached the light.The four walls reach up,As if they were destinedTo protect the bold treeThat climbed to the clouds.Whenever in the green valleyI strolled in solitude,It was the noble elmThat occupied my thoughts.Whenever I hearkenedIn the mouldering silent ruins,The stirring tree-topRustled in the wind.I often saw it glowing In the first rays of dawn;I saw it still gleaming brightly When the valley around grew dark.In the monastery at WittenbergAnother such tree grew,Whose gigantic branchesForced their way through the study’s roof.O ray of light, you force your wayInto every deep vault.O spirit of the world, you struggle Aloft to find light and air.
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
Richard Georg Strauss was a German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is particularly well-known for his operas, Lieder, and tone poems.
Read more here.
See Full Entry
Poet
Johann Ludwig Uhland, was a German poet, philologist and literary historian.
He was born in Tübingen, Württemberg, and studied jurisprudence at the university there, but also took an interest in medieval literature, especially old German and French poetry. Having graduated as a doctor of laws in 1810, he went to Paris for eight months to continue his studies of poetry; and from 1812 to 1814 he worked as a lawyer in Stuttgart, in the bureau of the minister of justice.
Taken from Wikipedia. To view the full article, please click here.
See Full Entry
Sorry, no further description available.
Previously performed at:
Die Ulme zu Hirsau
The elm tree at Hirsau
If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.
Composer
Richard Georg Strauss was a German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is particularly well-known for his operas, Lieder, and tone poems.
Read more here.
See Full Entry
Poet
Johann Ludwig Uhland, was a German poet, philologist and literary historian.
He was born in Tübingen, Württemberg, and studied jurisprudence at the university there, but also took an interest in medieval literature, especially old German and French poetry. Having graduated as a doctor of laws in 1810, he went to Paris for eight months to continue his studies of poetry; and from 1812 to 1814 he worked as a lawyer in Stuttgart, in the bureau of the minister of justice.
Taken from Wikipedia. To view the full article, please click here.
See Full Entry
Sorry, no further description available.
Previously performed at:
About Oxford Lieder
Oxford Lieder is one of the world's leading promoters of song and the winner of a prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Award. The focal point of each year is the two-week Oxford Lieder Festival in October.
Find out More