Dear Friends,
I’m so happy to offer you
Das Ständchen (The Serenade)
A setting by Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897 — 1957) of the poem by Joseph Karl Benedikt Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788 — 1857)
From Korngold’s Op. 9, composed 1911
Performed by Ishmael Wallace, tenor and piano
On the rooftops, through pallid clouds, the moon shines forth; on the street, by his sweetheart’s door, a student sings. And once again the fountains murmur in the quiet solitude, and, from the mountain, the forest murmurs, as in the good old days.
I too, in the days of youth, many a summer’s night, plucked the lute in this spot and made up lively songs. But across that quiet threshold, they carried out my love to rest.
And you, blithe fellow, sing! Sing!
(translation by IW)
German text:
Auf die Dächer zwischen blassen
Wolken scheint der Mond herfür,
Ein Student dort auf den Gassen
Singt vor seiner Liebsten Tür.
Und die Brunnen rauschen wieder
Durch die stille Einsamkeit,
Und der Wald vom Berge nieder,
Wie in alter, schöner Zeit.
So in meinen jungen Tagen
Hab ich manche Sommernacht
Auch die Laute hier geschlagen
Und manch lust’ges Lied erdacht.
Aber von der stillen Schwelle
Trugen sie mein Lieb zur Ruh’ –
Und du, fröhlicher Geselle,
Singe, sing nur immer zu!
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