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Songs

Songs

Des Fischers Liebesglück (1827) D933

Des Fischers Liebesglück

Karl Gottfried von Leitner

Dort blinket
Durch Weiden,
Und winket
Ein Schimmer
Blassstrahlig
Vom Zimmer
Der Holden mir zu.
Es gaukelt
Wie Irrlicht,
Und schaukelt
Sich leise
Sein Abglanz
Im Kreise
Des schwankenden Sees.
Ich schaue
Mit Sehnen
In’s Blaue
Der Wellen,
Und grüsse
Den hellen,
Gespiegelten Strahl.
Und springe
Zum Ruder,
Und schwinge
Den Nachen
Dahin auf
Den flachen,
Krystallenen Weg.
Fein-Liebchen
Schleicht traulich
Vom Stübchen
Herunter,
Und sputet
Sich munter
Zu mir in das Boot.
Gelinde
Dann treiben
Die Winde
Uns wieder
See-einwärts
Vom Flieder
Des Ufers hindann.
Die blassen
Nachtnebel
Umfassen
Mit Hüllen
Vor Spähern
Den stillen,
Unschuldigen Scherz.
Und tauschen
Wir Küsse,
So rauschen
Die Wellen
Im Sinken
Und Schwellen,
Den Horchern zum Trotz.
Nur Sterne
Belauschen
Uns ferne,
Und baden
Tief unter
Den Pfaden
Des gleitenden Kahns.
So schweben
Wir selig,
Umgeben
Vom Dunkel,
Hoch überm
Gefunkel
Der Sterne einher.
Und weinen
Und lächeln,
Und meinen,
Enthoben
Der Erde,
Schon oben,
Schon drüben zu sein.

The fisherman's luck in love

English Translation © Richard Wigmore

Yonder light gleams
through the willows,
and a pale
glimmer
beckons to me
from the bedroom
of my sweetheart.
It flickers
like a will-o’-the-wisp,
and its reflection
sways
gently
in the circle
of the undulating lake.
I gaze
longingly
into the blue
of the waves,
and greet
the bright
reflected beam.
And spring
to the oar,
and swing
the boat
away on
its smooth,
crystal course.
My sweetheart
slips lovingly
down
from her little room,
and joyfully
hastens to me
in the boat.
Then the breezes
gently
blow us
again
out into the lake
from the elder tree
on the shore.
The pale
evening mists
envelop
and veil
our silent,
innocent dallying
from prying onlookers.
And as we exchange
kisses,
the waves
lap,
rising
and falling,
to foil eavesdroppers.
Only stars
in the far distance
overhear us,
and bathe
deep down
below the course
of the gliding boat.
So we drift on
blissfully,
in the midst
of darkness,
high above
the twinkling
stars.
Weeping,
smiling,
we think
we have soared free
of the earth,
and are already up above,
on another shore.
Translation by Richard Wigmore

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Composer

Franz Schubert

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

Karl Gottfried von Leitner

Karl (or Carl) Gottfried Ritter von Leitner ( was an Austrian author and publicist from Graz, Styria, Austria.

From 1837 to 1854 he was the first Secretary to the Estates in Styria. He was the editor of the newspaper "Steiermark Zeitschrift" (Styria Times). Karl was the curator of the Landesmuseum Joanneum (Joanneum National Museum) in Graz, Austria from 1858 to 1864, and ge co-founded the Historical Association for Styrian Friendship with Peter Rosegger.

Some of his ballads were set to music by Franz Schubert, including Der Kreuzzug (D932), Der Wallensteiner Lanzknecht beim Trunk (D931), Der Winterabend (D938), Des Fischers Liebesglück (D933), Die Sterne (D939) and Vor meine Wiege (D927).

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