Songs
Der Handschuh
(1849)
Op. 87
Der Handschuh
Vor seinem Löwengarten,Das Kampfspiel zu erwarten,Saß König Franz,Und um ihn die Großen der Krone,Und rings auf hohem BalkoneDie Damen in schönem Kranz.Und wie er winkt mit dem Finger,Auftut sich der Zwinger,Und hinein mit bedächtigem SchrittEin Löwe tritt,Und sieht sich stummRings um,Mit langem Gähnen,Und schüttelt die Mähnen,Und streckt die Glieder,Und legt sich nieder.Und der König winkt wieder,Da öffnet sich behendEin zweites Tor,Daraus renntMit wildem SprungeEin Tiger hervor,Wie der den Löwen erschaut,Brüllt er laut,Schlägt mit dem SchweifEinen furchtbaren Reif,Und recket die Zunge,Und im Kreise scheuUmgeht er den LeuGrimmig schnurrend,Drauf streckt er sich murrendZur Seite nieder.Und der König winkt wieder,Da speit das doppelt geöffnete HausZwei Leoparden auf einmal aus;Die stürzen mit mutiger KampfbegierAuf das Tigertier,Das packt sie mit seinen grimmigen Tatzen,Und der Leu mit GebrüllRichtet sich auf, da wird’s still,Und herum im Kreis,Von Mordsucht heiß,Lagern sich die greulichen Katzen.Da fällt von des Altans RandEin Handschuh von schöner HandZwischen den Tiger und den Leu’nMitten hinein.Und zu Ritter Delorges spottenderweisWendet sich Fräulein Kunigund:„Herr Ritter, ist Eure Lieb so heiß,Wie Ihr mir’s schwört zu jeder Stund,Ei, so hebt mir den Handschuh auf.“Und der Ritter in schnellem LaufSteigt hinab in den furchtbaren ZwingerMit festem Schritte,Und aus der Ungeheuer MitteNimmt er den Handschuh mit keckem Finger.Und mit Erstaunen und mit GrauenSehen’s die Ritter und Edelfrauen,Und gelassen bringt er den Handschuh zurück,Da schallt ihm sein Lob aus jedem Munde,Aber mit zärtlichem Liebesblick—Er verheißt ihm sein nahes Glück—Empfängt ihn Fräulein Kunigunde.Und er wirft ihr den Handschuh ins Gesicht:„Den Dank, Dame, begehr ich nicht,“Und verläßt sie zur selben Stunde.
The Glove
Before his lion arena,Awaiting the contest,Sat King Francis,Surrounded by the lords of the realm,And on the high balcony,By a fair circle of ladies.And as he gives a sign,The cage opens,And with measured treadA lion pads in,Silently lookingAroundWith a long yawn,He shakes his mane,Stretches his limbsAnd then lies down.And again the king gives a sign,A second gateSwiftly opens,And from it,With savage leap,A tiger springs.On seeing the lion,He roars mightily,Lashing his tailIn a fearful arcAnd lolls out his tongue,And stealthilyCircles the lion,And then, with a growl,Lies downBy its side.And again the king gives a sign,The gates open a second time,Spewing out two leopards at once.They pounce with murderous mightOn the tiger,Which seizes them in his cruel claws,And the lion, with a roar,Rises—all fall silent;And in a circle,Hot with bloodlust,The savage cats crouch down.Then, from the balcony’s edge,A glove falls from a fair hand,Right betweenThe tiger and the lion.And to Sir Delorges, tauntinglyLady Kunigunde turns:‘Knight, if you love me as ardentlyAs you constantly avow—Why then, bring me up my glove!’And the knight swiftlyDescends into the terrible den,Unflinchingly,And from between the monstrous beastsAudaciously recovers the glove.And with amazement and terrorThe knights and noble ladies watch,As calmly he returns with the glove.All then praise him;But with tender loving glances—A promise of the bliss in store—Lady Kunigunde receives him.And he flings the glove in her face:‘I desire no such thanks from you, my Lady!’And forthwith takes his leave.
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
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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Previously performed at:
Der Handschuh
The Glove
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
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.