Songs
Der deutsche Rhein „Patriotisches Lied“
(1840)
WoO1
Der deutsche Rhein „Patriotisches Lied“
Sie sollen ihn nicht haben,Den freien deutschen Rhein,Ob sie wie gier’ge RabenSich heiser danach schrein.So lang er ruhig wallendSein grünes Kleid noch trägt,So lang ein Ruder schallendIn seine Wogen schlägt!Sie sollen ihn nicht haben,Den freien deutschen Rhein,So lang sich Herzen labenAn seinem Feuerwein.So lang in seinem StromeNoch fest die Felsen stehn,So lang sich hohe DomeIn seinem Spiegel sehn.Sie sollen ihn nicht haben,Den freien deutschen Rhein,So lang dort kühne KnabenUm schlanke Dirnen frei’n,So lang die Flosse hebetEin Fisch auf seinem Grund,So lang ein Lied noch lebetIn seiner Sänger Mund.Sie sollen ihn nicht haben,Den freien deutschen Rhein,Bis seine Fluth begrabenDes letzten Mann’s Gebein.
The German Rhine, "Patriotic song"
They shall not ever have it,The free and German Rhine,Though with a raven’s gluttonyThey scream until they’re hoarse.As long as on its flowing wayIt still wears its verdant cloak,As long as reverberating oarsStill dip into its waves.They shall not ever have it,The free and German Rhine,As long as hearts still feastUpon its sun-drenched wine.As long as on its surfaceThe rocky cliffs still gaze,As long as lofty cathedralsAre still mirrored in its waves.They shall not ever have it,The free and German Rhine,As long as valorous youths still wooSlim maidens on its shore.As long as fish still flick their finsDown there on the river bed,As long as songs still resoundFrom every minstrel’s mouth.They shall not ever have it,The free and German Rhine,Until its waters have submergedThe mortal remains of every man.
Translations by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
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Composer
Robert Schumann was a German composer and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist. He had been assured by his teacher Friedrich Wieck that he could become the finest pianist in Europe, but a hand injury ended this dream. Schumann then focused his musical energies on composing.
Schumann's published compositions were written exclusively for the piano until 1840; he later composed works for piano and orchestra; many Lieder (songs for voice and piano); four symphonies; an opera; and other orchestral, choral, and chamber works. Works such as Kinderszenen, Album für die Jugend, Blumenstück, the Sonatas and Albumblätter are among his most famous. His writings about music appeared mostly in the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik (New Journal for Music), a Leipzig-based publication which he jointly founded.
In 1840, Schumann married Friedrich Wieck's daughter Clara, against the wishes of her father, following a long and acrimonious legal battle, which found in favor of Clara and Robert. Clara also composed music and had a considerable concert career as a pianist, the earnings from which formed a substantial part of her father's fortune.
Schumann suffered from a lifelong mental disorder, first manifesting itself in 1833 as a severe melancholic depressive episode, which recurred several times alternating with phases of ‘exaltation’ and increasingly also delusional ideas of being poisoned or threatened with metallic items. After a suicide attempt in 1854, Schumann was admitted to amental asylum, at his own request, in Endenich near Bonn. Diagnosed with "psychotic melancholia", Schumann died two years later in 1856 without having recovered from his mental illness.
Taken from wikipedia. To read the rest of the article, please click here.
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Poet
Nikolaus Becker was a German lawyer and writer. His one poem of note was the 1840 "Rheinlied" (Rhine song) which was set to music over 70 times, the most famous setting being Die Wacht am Rhein.
Taken from Wikipedia. To view the full article, please click here.
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Der deutsche Rhein „Patriotisches Lied“
The German Rhine, "Patriotic song"
If you would like to use our texts and translations, please click here for more information.
Composer
Robert Schumann was a German composer and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist. He had been assured by his teacher Friedrich Wieck that he could become the finest pianist in Europe, but a hand injury ended this dream. Schumann then focused his musical energies on composing.
Schumann's published compositions were written exclusively for the piano until 1840; he later composed works for piano and orchestra; many Lieder (songs for voice and piano); four symphonies; an opera; and other orchestral, choral, and chamber works. Works such as Kinderszenen, Album für die Jugend, Blumenstück, the Sonatas and Albumblätter are among his most famous. His writings about music appeared mostly in the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik (New Journal for Music), a Leipzig-based publication which he jointly founded.
In 1840, Schumann married Friedrich Wieck's daughter Clara, against the wishes of her father, following a long and acrimonious legal battle, which found in favor of Clara and Robert. Clara also composed music and had a considerable concert career as a pianist, the earnings from which formed a substantial part of her father's fortune.
Schumann suffered from a lifelong mental disorder, first manifesting itself in 1833 as a severe melancholic depressive episode, which recurred several times alternating with phases of ‘exaltation’ and increasingly also delusional ideas of being poisoned or threatened with metallic items. After a suicide attempt in 1854, Schumann was admitted to amental asylum, at his own request, in Endenich near Bonn. Diagnosed with "psychotic melancholia", Schumann died two years later in 1856 without having recovered from his mental illness.
Taken from wikipedia. To read the rest of the article, please click here.
See Full Entry
Poet
Nikolaus Becker was a German lawyer and writer. His one poem of note was the 1840 "Rheinlied" (Rhine song) which was set to music over 70 times, the most famous setting being Die Wacht am Rhein.
Taken from Wikipedia. To view the full article, please click here.
See Full Entry
Sorry, no further description available.
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