Hans Pfitzner: Cantata, "Von deutscher Seele" Part 3 "Der Liederteil" 2-4

Hans Pfitzner (1869-1949)
"Von deutscher Seele" (Of the German Soul)
A Romantic Cantata
after texts by Joseph von Eichendorff
for four solo voices, mixed chorus, orchestra and organ

Agnes Giebel (soprano)
Hertha Töpper (alto)
Fritz Wunderlich (tenor)
Otto Wiener (bass)
Orchestra and Chorus of the Bavarian Radio
Joseph Keilberth cond.


Part Three
"Der Liederteil" (Songs)

2-4


"Die Nonne und der Ritter" aus "Romanzen"
(Soli: Alt, Tenor, Chor)

Da ist die Welt zur Ruh gegangen,
Wacht mit Sternen mein Verlangen;
In der Kühle muß ich lauschen,
Wie die Wellen unten rauschen!

"Fernher mich die Wellen tragen,
Die ans Land so traurig schlagen,
Unter deines Fensters Gitter,
Fraue, kennst du noch den Ritter?"

Ist's doch, als ob seltsam' Stimmen
Durch die lauen Lüfte schwimmen;
Wieder hat's der Wind genommen,
Ach, mein Herz ist so beklommen!

"Drüben liegt dein Schloß verfallen,
Klagend in den öden Hallen,
Aus dem Grund der Wald mich grüßte,
's war, als ob ich sterben müßte."

Alte Klänge blühend schreiten!
Wie aus lang versunknen Zeiten
Will mich Wehmut noch bescheinen,
Und ich möcht' von Herzen weinen.

"Überm Walde blitzt's von weiten,
Wo um Christi Grab sie streiten;
Dorthin will mein Schiff ich wenden,
Da wird alles, alles enden!"

Geht ein Schiff, ein Mann stand drinne,
Falsche Nacht, verwirrst die Sinne!
Welt Ade! Gott woll' bewahren,
Die noch irr im Dunkeln fahren!



"The Nun and the Knight" from "Romances"
(Contralto, tenor, chorus)

The world has gone to rest,
My longing is awake, with the stars;
In the cool I must listen
To the waves roaring below.

The waves that carry me here from afar.
Beat so sadly on the land,
Beneath your window grille,
Lady, do you still know your knight?

Yet it is as if strange voices
Were swimming through the tepid air;
The wind has taken them away again,
Ah, my heart is so oppressed!

Yonder your castle lies in ruins;
Lamenting in the desolate halls;
From its depths the forest greeted me,
It was as if I were to die.

Old sounds are reawakened!
As from long-lost times
Melancholy will still fill me,
And I could weep from my heart.

Far over the forest the lightning flashes
Where they quarrel over Christs grave;
Thither will I turn my ship;
There everything, everything will end!

A ship sails: in it stood a man.
False night, you confuse the senses.
World, adieu! May God preserve
Those who still wander in darkness.

English translation: Lionel Salter

Category:

Music

Tags:

• classical
• cantata
• chorus
• Pfitzner
• Eichendorff
• Giebel
• Töpper
• Wunderlich
• Wiener
• Keilberth

[Glenmed]

I seem to remember another version you did of this, Karen. It's quite a story and you really are an expert in moving it along with exceptional pictures. No happy ending though!

[FiDiTanzer528]

You remember correctly, Barry. The Brahms setting. I included it as a video response to this in case anyone wants to see what Brahms did with the same poem. Quite different of course. I also remember that you provided me with a nice alternate translation of the Eichendorff, more poetic. :)

[Searchandpreserve]

I´m a bit surprised, that your great collection is lacking Ottmar Schoeck. And by the way, Sibelius wrote some fine songs too, though not in german only, but his swedish and finnish settings of orchestral songs are absolutely worthy a closer look. Thanks for your work, it deserves more viewers.

[FiDiTanzer528]

Thanks! Great idea about learning the language. Best of luck with that.