Songs
Der Jüngling am Bache
(1819)
D638
Der Jüngling am Bache
An der Quelle sass der Knabe, Blumen wand er sich zum Kranz,Und er sah sie fortgerissen, Treiben in der Wellen Tanz.„Und so fliehen meine Tage Wie die Quelle rastlos hin!Und so bleichet meine Jugend,Wie die Kränze schnell verblühn!„Fraget nicht, warum ich traure In des Lebens Blütenzeit!Alles freuet sich und hoffet,Wenn der Frühling sich erneut.Aber diese tausend Stimmen Der erwachenden NaturWecken in dem tiefen BusenMir den schweren Kummer nur.„Was soll mir die Freude frommen, Die der schöne Lenz mir beut?Eine nur ist’s, die ich suche, Sie ist nah und ewig weit.Sehnend breit’ ich meine Arme Nach dem teuren Schattenbild,Ach, ich kann es nicht erreichen, Und das Herz bleibt ungestillt!„Komm herab, du schöne Holde, Und verlass dein stolzes Schloss!Blumen, die der Lenz geboren, Streu’ ich dir in deinen Schoss.Horch, der Hain erschallt von Liedern, Und die Quelle rieselt klar!Raum ist in der kleinsten Hütte Für ein glücklich liebend Paar.“
The Youth By the Brook
By the stream sat a youth, weaving flowers into a wreath;he saw them carried offand swept along in the dancing waves.‘Thus my days speed by, relentlessly, like the stream!And my youth grows pale,as quickly as the wreaths wilt!‘Do not ask me why I mourn in life’s fullest bloom!All is filled with joy and hope when spring returns.But a thousand voices of burgeoning natureawaken deep in my heart only heavy grief.‘What good to me is the joywhich the fair spring offers me?There is only one I seek;she is near and yet eternally distant.Yearningly I stretch out my arms towards that beloved shadowy image;ah, I cannot reach it,and my heart is unquiet.‘Come down, gracious beauty, and leave your proud castle!Flowers, which the spring has borne, I shall strew on your lap.Listen! The grove echoes with song and the brook ripples limpidly. There is room in the tiniest cottagefor a happy, loving couple.’
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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.
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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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Der Jüngling am Bache
The Youth By the Brook
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
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.
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.
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