Songs
Lebenslied
(1816)
D508
Lebenslied
Kommen und Scheiden, Suchen und Meiden, Fürchten und Sehnen, Zweifeln und Wähnen,Armut und Fülle, Verödung und Pracht Wechseln auf Erden wie Dämmrung und Nacht!Fruchtlos hinieden Ringst du nach Frieden! Täuschende Schimmer Winken dir immer;Doch, wie die Furchen des gleitenden Kahns, Schwinden die Zaubergebilde des Wahns!Auf zu der Sterne Leuchtender Ferne Blicke vom Staube Mutig der Glaube:Dort nur verknüpft ein unsterbliches Band Wahrheit und Frieden, Verein und Bestand!Günstige Fluten Tragen die Guten, Fördern die BravenSicher zum Hafen,Und, ein harmonisch verklingendes Lied, Schliesst sich das Leben dem edlen Gemüt! Männlich zu leiden,Kraftvoll zu meiden,Kühn zu verachten,Bleib unser TrachtenBleib unser Kämpfen in eherner Brust,Uns des unsträflichen Willens bewusst.
Song of Life
Arriving and departing, seeking and shunning, fearing and yearning, doubting and guessing,poverty and abundance, desolation and splendour alternate on earth like dusk and night.In vain you strivefor peace here below. Will-o’-the-wisps forever beckon to you;but, like the furrows ploughed by the gliding boat, these magic creations of illusion vanish.Let faith bravelygaze up from the dust to the starsshining in the distance;only there does an undying bondunite truth and peace, fellowship and permanence.Favourable tides bear the virtuous, carry the brave safely to harbour,and to the noble spirit life closes as a harmonious, dying song.To suffer manfully,To avoid resolutely,To despise boldly:Let us make this our endeavour!And our striving,Conscious of a spotless will within our iron breast!
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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
Friedrich von Matthisson was a German poet, an early member of the German Romantic movement. His best known poem is probably Adelaide, which was set to music by Beethoven.
He was born at Hohendodeleben near Magdeburg, the son of the village pastor, on the 23rd of January 1761. After studying theology and philology at the university of Halle, he was appointed in 1781 master at the classical school Philanthropinum in Dessau. This once famous seminary was, however, then rapidly decaying in public favor, and in 1784 Matthisson was glad to accept a travelling tutorship. He lived for two years with the Swiss author Bonstetten at Nyon on Lake Geneva.
In 1794 he was appointed reader and traveling companion to Princess Louisa of Anhalt-Dessau (wife of Leopold III, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau). They visited Switzerland, Tyrol, and Italy. For a time, they were joined in their travels by Danish author and salonist Friederike Brun. After Princess Louisa's death in 1811, he entered the service of the king of Württemberg, was ennobled, created counselor of legation, appointed intendant of the court theatre and chief librarian of the royal library at Stuttgart. He resided for a time in Italy. In 1828 he retired and settled at Wörlitz near Dessau, where he died on the 12th of March 1831.
Taken from Wikipedia. To view the full article, please click here.
See Full Entry
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Lebenslied
Song of Life
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
Friedrich von Matthisson was a German poet, an early member of the German Romantic movement. His best known poem is probably Adelaide, which was set to music by Beethoven.
He was born at Hohendodeleben near Magdeburg, the son of the village pastor, on the 23rd of January 1761. After studying theology and philology at the university of Halle, he was appointed in 1781 master at the classical school Philanthropinum in Dessau. This once famous seminary was, however, then rapidly decaying in public favor, and in 1784 Matthisson was glad to accept a travelling tutorship. He lived for two years with the Swiss author Bonstetten at Nyon on Lake Geneva.
In 1794 he was appointed reader and traveling companion to Princess Louisa of Anhalt-Dessau (wife of Leopold III, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau). They visited Switzerland, Tyrol, and Italy. For a time, they were joined in their travels by Danish author and salonist Friederike Brun. After Princess Louisa's death in 1811, he entered the service of the king of Württemberg, was ennobled, created counselor of legation, appointed intendant of the court theatre and chief librarian of the royal library at Stuttgart. He resided for a time in Italy. In 1828 he retired and settled at Wörlitz near Dessau, where he died on the 12th of March 1831.
Taken from Wikipedia. To view the full article, please click here.
See Full Entry
Sorry, no further description available.
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