Schubert: "Vor meiner Wiege", D. 927 Fischer-Dieskau, Moore

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
"Vor meiner Wiege", D. 927
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone)
Gerald Moore (piano)


Although Schubert's "Vor meiner Wiege" ("Before My Cradle", D. 927) might be classed among the composer's relatively few cradle songs; the text's preoccupation with nostalgia and death removes it from the realm of innocent lullabies of Schubert's past and looks forward to the dark lullabies of Mussorgsky. Setting a four-verse poem of Karl von Leitner as a five-strophe song, Schubert is acutely sensitive, perhaps even morbidly sensitive, to the meaning of the poem. He sets the first two verses in a slow and solemn bleak B minor, the same key as "Einsamkeit" (Loneliness) from _Winterreise_, but modulates at the close of the second verse to a radiantly nostalgic D major. After almost two verses recalling the joy of being suckled by his mother while she sang to him in a long and gently flowing melody, the song again modulates back to B minor at the close of the fourth verse when the poem turns to thoughts of death. The fifth and final verse is as dark as almost anything in _Winterreise_, and the repetition of the final line—"For the long, last and deepest rest"—is heartbreaking in its sense of utter bereavement. Although some critics have disparaged Leitner's poem as mawkish (which it certainly is), there is no denying that it inspired Schubert to one of his greatest and most profound songs. ----All Music Guide



Vor meiner Wiege, D. 927

Das also, das ist der enge Schrein,
Da lag ich einstens als Kind darein,
Da lag ich gebrechlich, hilflos und stumm
Und zog nur zum Weinen die Lippen krumm.

Ich konnte nichts fassen mit Händchen zart,
Und war doch gebunden nach Schelmenart;
Ich hatte Füßchen und lag doch wie lahm,
Bis Mutter an ihre Brust mich nahm.

Dann lachte ich saugend zu ihr empor
Sie sang mir von Rosen und Engeln vor,
Sie sang und sie wiegte mich singend in Ruh,
Und küßte mir liebend die Augen zu.

Sie spannte aus Seide, gar dämmerig grün,
Ein kühliges Zelt hoch über mich hin.
Wo find ich nur wieder solch friedlich Gemach?
Vielleicht, wenn das grüne Gras mein Dach!

O Mutter, lieb; Mutter, bleib' lange noch hier!
Wer sänge dann tröstlich von Engeln mir?
Wer küßte mir liebend die Augen zu
Zur langen, zur letzen und tiefesten Ruh'?

Karl Gottfried von Leitner (1800-1890)


At my cradle

So this is the narrow cabinet
Where once I lay as a child.
There I lay: frail, helpless and unable to speak,
opening my lips only to cry.

I could seize nothing with my delicate little hands,
and yet I was always bound fast like a rogue;
I had tiny feet, yet lay as if I were lame,
until Mother took me and held me to her breast.

Then I laughed up at her as I suckled;
She sang to me of roses and angels.
She sang and she rocked me to sleep,
and kissed my eyes lovingly closed.

She spread out something of silk: dusky green,
a cool tent high above me.
Where will I ever find again such a peaceful room?
Perhaps when the green grass is my roof!

O Mother, dear Mother, stay awhile yet!
Who else could sing to me so soothingly of angels?
Who else could kiss my eyes lovingly closed,
For the long, deep and final rest?

Translation: Emily Ezust

Category:

Music

Tags:

• classical
• vocal
• Lieder
• Schubert
• Fischer-Dieskau
• Moore
• baritone

[Glenmed]

This video is a work of art here on every possible level. Wonderfully meticulous and appropriate presentation, Karen, really.

[007strauss]

What a wonderful posting. Thank you, Karen!

[napsuta]

How can I study when I have this to listen to! So beautiful. So convincing that it is difficult to believe that DFD is not singing his own words to his own music from his own experience. When you hear DFD on tape, disc or here it is dead, its a recording and yet DFD's music is alive and stirs the soul and compels you to listen. Its as if he is standing and singing just where you are. Thank you Karen.

[MVerbesserung]

I don't usually like lieder accompanied by slide shows because the images often seem to inhibit my own imagination's response to the song. But this is really beautifully and sensitively done. Thanks for posting.

[mdehkram]

I have not heard this song before.  It is striking, and unusual. What emotional contrasts and honesty.

[WatchBlueSkies]

fantastic.

[saiserieht]

I did not know this LIed before and it touches me in its profoundness. Also Fischer-Diskau does a great job - it is a serious and straightforward interpretation.

[megansspark]

beautiful work on this, Karen... one of Schubert's best, and you've presented it to perfection. :)

[sfkcbf]

Bravo to you (5 stars), to Schubert, to DFD, to Moore. Despite the beauty of this song, hearing it is painful, not just because of the words reminding us of our own mortality and brief lives, but also of Schubert's own life that was ended far too soon, far to young. What music still remained within him?

[holdekunst57]

What wonderfully apt illustrations you found for this song! It's one of my very favourite Schubert songs, ever since I first heard this recording about 35 years ago! Thank you, Karen.

[oakroom48]

Beautiful, simply beautiful in every way. We have so much to thank you for, Karen, in your exquisite work!

[imusiciki]

What a beautiful song that essentially summarizes life and death! Your video was presented perfectly & I loved the way you ended your video with the cradle..it makes the song even more meaningful. Thank you Karen.