Songs
Lied des Orpheus, als er in die Hölle ging
(1816)
D474
Lied des Orpheus, als er in die Hölle ging
Wälze dich hinweg, du wildes Feuer! Diese Saiten hat ein Gott gekrönt;Er, mit welchem jedes Ungeheuer, Und vielleicht die Hölle sich versöhnt.Diese Saiten stimmte seine Rechte: Fürchterliche Schatten, flieht!Und ihr winselnden Bewohner dieser Nächte Horchet auf mein Lied!Von der Erde, wo die Sonne leuchtet Und der stille Mond,Wo der Tau das junge Moos befeuchtet, Wo Gesang im grünen Felde wohnt;Aus der Menschen süssem Vaterlande, Wo der Himmel euch so frohe Blicke gab Ziehen mich die schönsten Bande, Ziehet mich die Liebe selbst herab.Meine Klage tönt in eure Klage;Weit von hier geflohen ist das Glück; Aber denkt an jene Tage,Schaut in jene Welt zurück!Wenn ihr da nur einen Leidenden umarmtet,O, so fühlt die Wollust noch einmalUnd der Augenblick, in dem ihr euch erbarmtet, Lindre diese lange Qual.O, ich sehe Tränen fliessen!Durch die Finsternisse brichtEin Strahl von Hoffnung; ewig büssen Lassen euch die guten Götter nicht.Götter, die für euch die Erde schufen, Werden aus der tiefen NachtEuch in selige Gefilde rufen,Wo die Tugend unter Rosen lacht
Song of Orpheus as he enters hell
Roll back, savage fire!These strings have been crowned by a god; with whom every monsterand perhaps hell itself is reconciled.His right hand tunes these strings;flee, dread shadows!And you, whimpering inhabitants of this darkness, listen to my song!From earth, where the sunand the silent moon shine,where dew moistens fresh moss, where song dwells in green fields;From the sweet country of mankind, wherethe heavens once looked upon you with joyful gaze, I am drawn by the fairest of ties,I am drawn down by love itself.My lament mingles with yours, happiness has fled far from here; but remember those days,look back into that world!If there you embraced but one sufferer, then feel desire once more,and may that moment when you took pity soothe my long torment.O, I see tears flowing!Through the darknessa ray of hope breaks; the good gods will not let you atone for ever.The gods who created the earth for you will call you from deep nightinto the Elysian fieldswhere virtue smiles amid roses.
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 Georg Jacobi was a German poet.
The elder brother of the philosopher Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi, Johann Georg was born at Pempelfort near Düsseldorf. He studied theology at Göttingen and jurisprudence at Helmstedt, and was appointed, in 1766, professor of philosophy in Halle. In this year he made the acquaintance of J. W. L. Gleim, who, attracted by the young poets Poetische Versuche (1764), became his friend. A lively literary correspondence ensued between Gleim in Halberstadt and Jacobi in Halle. In order to have Jacobi near him, Gleim succeeded in procuring for him a prebendal stall at the cathedral of Halberstadt in 1769, and here Jacobi issued a number of anacreontic lyrics and sonnets that were not at all appreciated by the intellectuals of his time. Herder called Jacobi's anacreontic poetry tasteless nonsense, Goethe criticised the jingling verses as only impressing women, and Lichtenberg ridiculed Jacobi as a doctorem jubilatum.
Taken from Wikipedia. To view the full Wikipedia article please click here.
See Full Entry
Sorry, no further description available.
Lied des Orpheus, als er in die Hölle ging
Song of Orpheus as he enters hell
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 Georg Jacobi was a German poet.
The elder brother of the philosopher Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi, Johann Georg was born at Pempelfort near Düsseldorf. He studied theology at Göttingen and jurisprudence at Helmstedt, and was appointed, in 1766, professor of philosophy in Halle. In this year he made the acquaintance of J. W. L. Gleim, who, attracted by the young poets Poetische Versuche (1764), became his friend. A lively literary correspondence ensued between Gleim in Halberstadt and Jacobi in Halle. In order to have Jacobi near him, Gleim succeeded in procuring for him a prebendal stall at the cathedral of Halberstadt in 1769, and here Jacobi issued a number of anacreontic lyrics and sonnets that were not at all appreciated by the intellectuals of his time. Herder called Jacobi's anacreontic poetry tasteless nonsense, Goethe criticised the jingling verses as only impressing women, and Lichtenberg ridiculed Jacobi as a doctorem jubilatum.
Taken from Wikipedia. To view the full Wikipedia article please click here.
See Full Entry
Sorry, no further description available.
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