Songs
Laura am Klavier
(1816)
D388
Laura am Klavier
Wenn dein Finger durch die Saiten meistert, Laura, itzt zur Statue entgeistert,Itzt entkörpert steh’ ich da.Du gebietest über Tod und Leben, Mächtig, wie von tausend NervgewebenSeelen fordert Philadelphia.Ehrerbietig leiser rauschen Dann die Lüfte, dir zu lauschen; Hingeschmiedet zum Gesang Stehn im ew’gen Wirbelgang,Einzuzieh’n die Wonnefülle, Lauschende Naturen stille.Zauberin! mit Tönen, wieMich mit Blicken, zwingst du sie.Seelenvolle Harmonien wimmeln, Ein wollüstig Ungestüm,Aus ihren Saiten, wie aus ihren Himmeln Neugebor’ne Seraphim;Wie, des Chaos Riesenarm entronnen, Aufgejagt vom Schöpfungssturm, die SonnenFunkelnd fuhren aus der Nacht, Strömt der Töne Zaubermacht.Lieblich itzt, wie über glatten Kieseln Silberhelle Fluten rieseln,Majestätisch prächtig nun,Wie des Donners Orgelton,Stürmend von hinnen itzt, wie sich von Felsen Rauschende, schäumende Giessbäche wälzen, Holdes Gesäusel bald,Schmeichlerisch linde,Wie durch den EspenwaldBuhlende Winde,Schwerer nun und melancholisch düsterWie durch toter Wüsten Schauernachtgeflüster,Wo verlornes Heulen schweift, Tränenwellen der Cocytus schleift.Mädchen, sprich! ich frage, gib mir Kunde: Stehst mit höhern Geistern du im Bunde?Ist’s die Sprache, lüg’ mir nicht,Die man in Elysen spricht?
Laura at the Piano
When your fingers hold sway over the strings, Laura, I stand there, now dumbfounded, as if turned intoa statue, now disembodied.You have command over life and deathas mighty as Philadelphia, drawing the soulsfrom a thousand sensitive beings.In reverence the breezes whisper more softly, so as to listen to you;riveted by the music,nature, listening silently, stops in her whirling courseto take in the abundant delights.Enchantress! With sounds you enthral her, as you enthral me with your eyes.Soulful harmonies,sensual and impetuous,teem from her strings, like new-born seraphim from their heaven.As the flashing suns shot from the night escaping the giant arm of Chaos,driven away by the storm of creation,so the magic power of music pours forth.Sweetly now, as clear, silvery water ripples over smooth pebbles;now with majestic splendour,like the thunder’s organ-tones;now raging forth, like rushing, foaming torrents surging from rocks;now sweetly murmuring,gently coaxing,like wooing breezeswafting through the aspen woods.Now heavier, dark with melancholy, like fearful nocturnal whisperings through dead wasteswhere the howls of lost, wandering souls echo, and Cocytus drags waves of tears.Maiden, speak! I beg you, tell me: are you in league with divine spirits?Do not lie to me: is this the language they speak in Elysium?
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.
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Poet
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, physician, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life (1788–1805), Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with the already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. They frequently discussed issues concerning aesthetics, and Schiller encouraged Goethe to finish works he left as sketches. This relationship and these discussions led to a period now referred to as Weimar Classicism. They also worked together on Xenien, a collection of short satirical poems in which both Schiller and Goethe challenge opponents to their philosophical vision.
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Laura am Klavier
Laura at the Piano
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
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, physician, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life (1788–1805), Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with the already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. They frequently discussed issues concerning aesthetics, and Schiller encouraged Goethe to finish works he left as sketches. This relationship and these discussions led to a period now referred to as Weimar Classicism. They also worked together on Xenien, a collection of short satirical poems in which both Schiller and Goethe challenge opponents to their philosophical vision.
Taken from Wikipedia. To view the full article, please click here.
See Full Entry
Sorry, no further description available.