Songs
Schiffers Scheidelied
(1827)
D910
Schiffers Scheidelied
Die Wogen am Gestade schwellen,Es klatscht der Wind das SegeltuchUnd murmelt in den weissen Wellen,Ich höre seinen wilden Spruch.Es ruft mich fort, es winkt der Kahn,Vor Ungeduld schaukelnd, auf weite Bahn.Dort streckt sie sich in öder Ferne,Du kannst nicht mit, siehst du, mein Kind;Wie leicht versinken meine Sterne,Wie leicht erwächst zum Sturm der Wind,Dann droht in tausend Gestalten der Tod,Wie trotzt’ ich ihm, wüsst’ ich dich in Not?O löse deiner Arme SchlingUnd löse auch von mir dein Herz!Weiss ich es denn, ob ich’s vollbringeUnd siegreich kehre heimatwärts?Die Welle, die jetzt so lockend singt,Vielleicht ist’s dieselbe, die mich verschlingt.Noch ist’s in deine Hand gegeben,Noch gingst du nichts unlösbar ein,O trenne schnell dein junges LebenVon meinem ungewissen Sein,O wolle, o wolle, bevor du musst,Entsagung ist leichter als Verlust!O lass mich im Bewusstsein steuern,Dass ich allein auf Erden bin,Dann beugt sich vor dem Ungeheuern,Vorm Unerhörten nicht mein Sinn.Ich treibe mit dem Entsetzen SpielUnd stehe plötzlich vielleicht am Ziel.Denn hoch auf meiner Maste SpitzenWird stets dein Bild begeisternd stehn,Und, angeflammet von den Blitzen,Mit seinem Glanz den Mut erhöhn.Der Winde Heulen auch noch so bang,Übertäubet nicht deiner Stimme Klang.Und kann ich dich nur sehn und hören,Dann hat’s mit mir noch keine Not,Das Leben will ich nicht entbehren,Und kämpfen werd ich mit dem Tod.Wie würde mir eine Welt zur Last,Die Engel so schön, wie dich umfasst?Auch du sollst nicht mein Bild zerschlagen,Mit Freundschaftstränen weih es ein,Es soll in Schmerz- und FreudetagenDein Trost und dein Vertrauter sein.Ja bleibe, wenn mich auch alles verliess,Mein Freund im heimischen Paradies.Und spült dann auch die falsche WelleMich tot zurück zum Blumenstrand,So weiss ich doch an lieber StelleNoch eine, eine treue Hand,Der weder Verachtung noch Schmerz es wehrt,Dass sie meinen Resten ein Grab beschert.
The Sailor's Song of Farewell
The waves surge on the shore,The wind beats against the canvasAnd murmurs amid the white waves;I hear its wild voice.It calls me away, and the boat, rocking impatiently,Bids me embark on a distant course.That course stretches far across the empty wastes;You cannot come with me, my child; do you not seeHow easily my stars may sink,How easily the wind may grow to a tempest?Then death will threaten in a thousand forms.How could I defy it if I knew you were in peril?O loose your arms’ embraceAnd free your heart of me.How do I know if I shall triumphAnd return home victorious?The very wave that now sings so enticinglyMay be the one that engulfs me.It still lies in your hands;You have still not embarked irrevocably.O sever your young life quicklyFrom my uncertain existence.Do it of your own free will, before you have to;Renunciation is easier than loss.Let me navigate in the knowledgeThat I am alone on this earth,Then my mind will not flinchBefore terrors, before the unknown.I shall sport with horrors,And shall perhaps stand suddenly at my goal.For your image will always beHigh on my mast, inspiring me,And, illuminated by lightning,Will raise my spirits with its radiance.However fearfully the winds howl,They will never drown the sound of your voice.And if I can but see and hear you,I have no other needs;I shall not be without life,And shall fight with death.How could a world ever become a burden to meWhich contains angels as fair as you?You, too, must not destroy my image;Consecrate it with tears of friendship.May it be your comfort and close companionIn times of sorrow and joy.If all else has deserted me,You shall remain my friend in this paradise of home.And if a treacherous wave should thenWash my dead body back upon the flowery shore,Then I shall know that at the beloved spotThere will still be one handWhich neither disdain nor sorrow will preventFrom granting my remains a grave.
Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition
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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
Franz Adolf Friedrich Schober, since 1801 von Schobe, was an Austrian poet, librettist, lithographer, actor in Breslau and Legationsrat in Weimar.
Schober was born to Austrian parents in Sweden. Educated in the Schnepfenthal Salzmann School, Akademisches Gymnasium (Vienna) and Kremsmünster Abbey, he returned to Vienna, where he began to study philosophy and met the composer Franz Schubert, his friends Johann Mayrhofer, Joseph von Spaun and the painters Leopold Kupelwieser and Moritz von Schwind. Between 1823 and 1825, Schober was an actor at the theatre in Breslau under the pseudonym "Torupson". In the 1840s, Schober was in close contact with Franz Liszt. In 1856 he married the author Thekla von Gumpert; afterwards he lived in Budapest, Munich and Dresden.
Schober wrote lyric poetry and in 1821 the libretto for Schubert's opera Alfonso und Estrella.
Taken from Wikipedia. To view the full article, please click here.
See Full Entry
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Schiffers Scheidelied
The Sailor's Song of Farewell
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
Franz Adolf Friedrich Schober, since 1801 von Schobe, was an Austrian poet, librettist, lithographer, actor in Breslau and Legationsrat in Weimar.
Schober was born to Austrian parents in Sweden. Educated in the Schnepfenthal Salzmann School, Akademisches Gymnasium (Vienna) and Kremsmünster Abbey, he returned to Vienna, where he began to study philosophy and met the composer Franz Schubert, his friends Johann Mayrhofer, Joseph von Spaun and the painters Leopold Kupelwieser and Moritz von Schwind. Between 1823 and 1825, Schober was an actor at the theatre in Breslau under the pseudonym "Torupson". In the 1840s, Schober was in close contact with Franz Liszt. In 1856 he married the author Thekla von Gumpert; afterwards he lived in Budapest, Munich and Dresden.
Schober wrote lyric poetry and in 1821 the libretto for Schubert's opera Alfonso und Estrella.
Taken from Wikipedia. To view the full article, please click here.
See Full Entry
Sorry, no further description available.
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