Songs

Non t'accostar all'urna (1820) D688

Part of a series or song cycle:

Non t'accostar all'urna

Jacopo Vittorelli

Non t’accostar all’ urna,

Che l’osse mie rinserra,

Questa pietosa terra

E’ sacra al mio dolor.

Ricuso i tuoi giacinti

Non voglio i tuoi pianti:

Che giovan agli estinti

Due lagrime, due fior?

Empia! Dovevi allor

Porgermi un fil d’aita,

Quando traea la vita

In grembo dei sospir.

Ah che d’inutil pianto

Assordi la foresta?

Rispetta un’ombra mesta,

E lasciala dormir.

Do not approach the urn

English Translation © Richard Wigmore

Do not approach the urn

which contains my bones;

this compassionate earth

is sacred to my sorrow.

I refuse your flowers,

I do not want your weeping;

what use to the dead

are a few tears and a few flowers?

Cruel one! You should have come

to help me

when my life was ebbing away

in slight and suffering.

With what futile weeping

do you assail the woods?

Respect a sad shade,

and let it sleep.

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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