The Poems Of Schubert’s Die Winterreise English .

UNRESTRICTED PHOTOCOPYING AND DIGITAL REPRODUCTIONThe Poems of Schubert’s Die WinterreiseEnglish TranslationBarry MitchellPublished by Theory of MusicLondon, 2015Catalogue No. ic.eu1

ContentsPreface . 3About the Author . 3Creative Commons Licence . 3Some artists who have used this translation . 3SCHUBERT’S DIE WINTERREISE: ENGLISH TRANSLATION . 4Chapter 1 Introduction to Schubert’s Die Winterreise. 4Synopsis . 4Chapter 2 . 5No. 1. Good Night (Gute Nacht), No. 2. The Weathervane (Die Wetterfahne), No. 3. Frozen Tears(Gefror’ne Thränen), No. 4. Feeling Numb (Erstarrung), No. 5. The Linden Tree (Der Lindenbaum) 5Chapter 3 . 11No. 6. The Watercourse (Wasserfluth), No. 7. On the River (Auf dem Flusse), No. 8. Looking Back(Rückblick), No. 9. Will O’ the Wisp (Irrlicht), No. 10. Rest (Rast) . 11Chapter 4 . 16No. 11. Spring Dreams (Frühlingstraum), No. 12. Solitude (Einsamkeit), No.13. The Post (Die Post),No. 14. The Grey Head (Der greise Kopf), No. 15. The Raven (Die Krähe) . 16Chapter 5 . 20No. 16. The Last Hope (Letzte Hoffnung), No. 17. In the Village (Im Dorfe), No. 18. The StormyMorning (Der stürmische Morgen), No. 19. Illusion (Täuschung), No. 20. The Guide-Post (DerWegweiser) . 20Chapter 6 . 24No. 21. The Wayside Inn (Das Wirthshaus), No. 22. Courage (Muth), No. 23. The Mock Suns (DieNebensonnen), No. 24. The Organ-Grinder (Der Leiermann) . 242

PrefaceAbout the AuthorBarry Mitchell was born in Belfast in 1958. He studied music at Queen’s University Belfast whereafter completing a first degree he studied for an MA in composition. He is also a graduate of TheOpen University. He has taught music for several colleges and universities in the UK including TheOpen University and Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance. He has worked as a musicexaminer for Edexcel Foundation and International Baccalaureate Organisation and has been areviewer for The Times Higher Education Supplement. He is currently a freelance teacher and lives inTwickenham in Greater London. He founded Theory of Music in 2007.Creative Commons LicenceThis publication includes a Creative Commons Licence which entitles the purchaser of this book touse and adapt the translations and synopses in any context and in any media, commercial ornoncommercial. The licence can be viewed creative-commons-licence/Some artists who have used this translationMusic for a WhileMusic for a while is a Norwegian jazz quintet headed by cabaret diva Tora Augestad. Theiralbum Graces that Refrain (Grappa Records, 2012) delivers chamber music/jazz transformations ofclassical songs. The translation in Schubert's Wanderers of Der Leiermann from Schubert's songcycle Die Winterreise is featured in the CD booklet.Sarah Walker at Oxford Lieder Festival's "Schubert Project 2014"World renowned mezzo-soprano Sarah Walker CBE used the translation of Winterreise from theTheory of Music publication Schubert's Wanderers (which this translation is taken from) at herOxford Lieder Festival masterclass on 16 October 2014 at St. Columba's Church, Alfred St.Oxford. See: http://www.oxfordlieder.co.uk/events/12803

SCHUBERT’S DIE WINTERREISE: ENGLISH TRANSLATIONChapter 1 Introduction to Schubert’s Die WinterreiseAn English translation of Schubert’s Die Winterreise, settings of poems by Wilhelm Müller and asynopsis of the story told by the poems.The twenty-four poems of Die Winterreise were written in 1821 and 1822. The first twelve poemswere published separately in 1823 and the cycle was published in full in 1824. Schubert made hissettings of the poems in 1827.These translations are in free verse and are designed to introduce readers to Schubert’s song cycle. Ihave ignored the original metrical scheme but have tried to make the translations as accurate aspossible. I have also tried to use a vocabulary that suggests Romantic poetry.SynopsisDie Winterreise is primarily about feelings and atmosphere, but there is nevertheless a story, albeittold in a fragmented narrative. A young man, the hero (or anti-hero) of the poems, arrives in anidyllic town in May (Good Night). There he befriends a family of mother, father and daughter and isinvited to live with them (Good Night). He falls in love with the daughter and his love is returned, orso he is led to believe (Feeling Numb). However, the daughter rejects him to marry a wealthy suitorwith the approval of her parents (The Weathervane). It is now winter and the hero leaves hisadopted home in the dead of night after writing a farewell message to his beloved (Good Night). Ashe leaves the town crows shower him with snow from the roofs (Looking Back) and he begins apainful journey, constantly tortured by memories of his past happiness (Frozen Tears, On the River,The Watercourse). On his journey he is joined by a raven, possibly symbolic of a death wish (TheRaven). Eventually he arrives at another town (Solitude) where it seems he stays for some time ashe writes of the post arriving there (The Post). The song cycle ends with a particularly bleak image.An organ-grinder or hurdy-gurdy man has a pitch near the town where he plies his trade ignored bythe townspeople and harassed by dogs. It is ironic that in this final poem the poet asks if the hurdygurdy man will set the poet’s songs to music, an invitation that was ultimately accepted by Schubert.4

Chapter 2No. 1. Good Night (Gute Nacht), No. 2. The Weathervane (Die Wetterfahne),No. 3. Frozen Tears (Gefror’ne Thränen), No. 4. Feeling Numb (Erstarrung),No. 5. The Linden Tree (Der Lindenbaum)Die Winterreise No. 1. Good Night (Gute Nacht)As a stranger I arrivedAs a stranger I shall leaveI remember a perfect day in MayHow bright the flowersHow cool the breezeThe maiden spoke of loveThe mother had kind wordsBut now the world is drearyWith a winter path before meI can’t choose the seasonTo depart from this placeI won’t delay or ponderI must begin my journey nowThe bright moon lights my pathIt will guide me on my roadI see the snow-covered meadowI see where deer have trod5

A voice within says – go nowWhy linger and delay?Leave the dogs to bay at the moonBefore her father’s gateFor love is a thing of changesGod has made it soEver-changing from old to newGod has made it soSo love delights in changesGood night, my love, good nightLove is a thing of changesGood night, my love, good nightI’ll not disturb your sleepBut I’ll write above your doorA simple farewell messageGood night, my love, good nightThese are the last words spokenSoon I’ll be out of sightA simple farewell messageGood night, my love, good night6

Die Winterreise No. 2. The Weathervane (Die Wetterfahne)The wind is turning the weathervaneOn the roof of my sweetheart's houseRound and round it mocks and teasesTeases and mocks my sighs and my tearsIf only I'd seen this fickle symbolBefore I entered that houseI would not have hoped so muchOf one inconstant, though so fairFor Nature plays with our heartsAs the wind plays with the vaneWhat do they care if my heart is dying?Their child will be a wealthy brideDie Winterreise No. 3. Frozen Tears (Gefror’ne Thränen)Some frozen tearsCling to my faceHave I really been cryingAnd not noticed them flow?Teardrops, heavy teardropsWhat chills you throughWhat turns you into ice7

Like drops of early dew?From this poor bosom tears flowFlow with burning heatFlow enough to meltThe winter frost and snowDie Winterreise No. 4. Feeling Numb (Erstarrung)I look for traces of her footstepsI look for them in vainWhere leaning on my armShe crossed the bright green fieldI'll kiss the wintry carpetAnd with my scalding tearsDissolve the freezing snowI'll bring that field to life againDo flowers still bloom?Is the grass still green?All the flowers have diedThe grass is withered and thinEarth, can you remind meOf yesterday's happinessWhen my sorrows fall silent8

Who will speak to me of her?It seems my heart is frozenHer face etched on the iceIf my heart ever meltsHer face will fade awayDie Winterreise No. 5. The Linden Tree (Der Lindenbaum)Before the doorway is a wellA linden tree stands thereMany times I’ve sought its shadeA place of rest and pleasant dreamsWhen dreaming there I carvedSome words of love upon the barkBoth joy and sorrowDrew me to that shady spotBut now I must wanderThrough this blackest nightIn darkness I passed this treeBut couldn’t bear to lookI heard the branches rustleAs if they spoke to me“Come to me my old friend9

Come, find peace with me”Cruel winds were blowingColdly cutting my faceMy hat was blown behind meI quickly sped on my wayI’m now many miles distantFrom that dear old linden treeBut I still hear it whisper“Come – find peace with me”10

Chapter 3No. 6. The Watercourse (Wasserfluth), No. 7. On the River (Auf dem Flusse),No. 8. Looking Back (Rückblick), No. 9. Will O’ the Wisp (Irrlicht), No. 10.Rest (Rast)Die Winterreise No. 6. The Watercourse (Wasserfluth)My tears have madeDeep marks in the snowThe cold flakesAbsorbing all my sorrowsWhen the grass begins to growAnd feels a warmer breezeThe swelling ice begins to breakAnd the sun melts the snowSnow, you know of my yearningsTell me, where do you go?Take my tears with youAs you flow to the streamFlow through the town togetherGo where the road leadsYou’ll feel my hot tearsAs you pass where my loved-one lives11

Die Winterreise No. 7. On the River (Auf dem Flusse)River, once so restlessFlowing fast and brightWhy are you now so stillLifeless, chilled and silentA hard and icy caseIs now your winter prisonYou lie cold and drearyPressed fast upon the earthI’ll write upon your coverWith a pointed stoneMy loved one’s nameA day and a timeThe day when I first met herThe day when my love beganI’ll draw a broken ringAround that name and dateDoes my heart seeYour image in this river?Does it swell and quiverIn its own icy case?12

Die Winterreise No. 8. Looking Back (Rückblick)It feels like I’m walking on fireThough underfoot is ice and snowI’ve hardly time to draw breathSo keen am I to leave that townEvery stone has made me stumbleIn my haste to get awayFrom every roof I’ve passedCrows have showered me with snowHow different when I arrivedHow well you greeted me thenYour shining happy streetsWhere the lark and nightingale sangA linden tree whispered in the breezeThe murmur of the sparkling streamThen the spell cast upon my heartFrom a beautiful maiden’s eyesNow when I think of that dayI’m tempted to turn and look backTo retrace my weary wayTo stand before my loved one’s house13

Die Winterreise No. 9. Will O' the Wisp (Irrlicht)Will O’ the Wisp has led meDeep into a rocky mazeI look from right to leftI seek a path but there is noneI’m about to lose my wayAll paths appear the sameOur joys and sorrows are no more realThan this teasing phantom lightThrough the gorge where the river rushedI’ll calmly travel onEvery river flows to the seaEvery sorrow will come to an endDie Winterreise No. 10. Rest (Rast)At last I rest and only nowI feel wearyNothing could tire meWhile I pressed onOver desolate winter paths14

I was carried along as if on wingsIt was too cold to stopThe winter wind helped me on my wayA helping hand on my back15

Chapter 4No. 11. Spring Dreams (Frühlingstraum), No. 12. Solitude (Einsamkeit),No.13. The Post (Die Post), No. 14. The Grey Head (Der greise Kopf), No. 15.The Raven (Die Krähe)Die Winterreise No. 11. Spring Dreams (Frühlingstraum)I had a dream of bright flowersBursting forth in MayI had a dream of a grassy meadowWith the sound of endless birdsongWhen the cock crowedI awoke in my bedEveything was cold and dismalThe ravens croaked overheadWho drew those leafy flowersUpon the window pane?Why do you mock the dreamerWhose garden blooms in winter?I had a dream of a lovely maidenAnd of the love we sharedThere were sweet kisses in the dreamAnd many blissful caresses16