O would I were but that sweet linnet! arrangement by Beethoven

O would I were but that sweet linnet! Vocal duet with instruments arranged by Ludwig van Beethoven. WoO. 154 (12 Irische Lieder) no. 9, G. 225 no. 9*

Victoria de los Angeles, Soprano
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Baritone
Gerald Moore, Piano
Eduard Drolc, Violin
Irmgard Poppen, Cello


All drawings by John James Audubon


O would I were but that sweet linnet!
That I had my apple-tree too!
Could sit all the sunny day in it,
With nothing but singing to do!
I'm weary with toiling and spinning;
And Dermot I never can see,
Nor sure am I Dermot of winning,
There's never good luck for poor me!

I tried with my sweetest behaviour
To tell our good priest my distress;
And ask'd him to speak in my favour,
When Dermot came next to confess.
But he said I was but a beginner,
And from love and temptation must flee!
So if love will but make me a sinner,
There's never good luck for poor me!

Ye Saints, with the Virgin! Believe me,
I join with the priest in your praise!
Contrive but my Dermot to give me,
And I'll love you the length of my days.
In vain would they bid me be wiser,
And never my Dermot to see,
Bad luck to advice and adviser!
Good luck to dear Dermot and me!

*Thanks to The Lied and Art Song Texts Page for information on the composition and the original text by William Smyth. Thanks to Ferdinando Albeggiani for technical assistance on their behalf and to Karen Legge for the quality sound file. Link to Art Song Texts site:
http://www.recmusic.org/lieder/get_text.html?TextId=25690

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Beethoven
• Fischer-Dieskau
• de los Angeles
• Gerald Moore
• John James Audubon
• yt:quality=high

[cdapgyt]

My Valentine's Day Song! The video is enchanting. Thanks. How do you make a Video and then

link it to a tune to load on Youtube ?

[oakroom48]

@cdapgyt Thank you so much! I did it in "Movie Maker" - a program that I had on my PC at the time. Glad you enjoyed it! Sorry about the quality - I also made a transfer from a vinyl recording, so the sound is not the best. -barbara

[f5procopius]

This is really a superb performance of WoO 154/9. Many, many thanks to oakwood48 for providing this upload.

[oakroom48]

My pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it :)

[zrshwe]

Wonderful. I have never heared this before. A jewel. Thanks for uploading.

[oakroom48]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[cdapgyt]

My Valentine's Day Song! The Video is enchanting. How do you make a video and then link it to a tune ?

[ytriem]

I haven't heard this for twenty years. Thanks.

[f5procopius]

That's "oakroom48," not "oakwood48" :)

Many thanks, again, for the upload, and also for the informative sidebar.

[oakroom48]

Vous êtes très gentil - merci bien :)