The Presentation of some Strauss

Hello All,

It’s hard to know what to use for German musical examples after you’ve listened to “Ich habe genug,” “Ich bin der Welt,” "Tristan and Isolde” and “Meistersinger.” There’s almost nowhere to go but down! But then I remembered another sublime bit of music from Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier – The presentation of the rose. It happens early in the second act and time practically stops. You can look up the story if you’d like – it’s very complicated and I don’t want to tax your patience going into it here but the duet is for a coloratura soprano – Sophie - and a pants leg role (that is, a mezzo playing a man’s role) - Octavian.
The two singers in this video are an American mezzo called Joyce di Donato who some of you might remember from Italian diction and a German coloratura called Diana Damrau. Joyce is from Kansas but her languages are extraordinarily good, so emulating her is certainly not a bad thing. Diana is from Gürnzburg Germany which is in Bavaria in the very south of the country. She does a rather heroic job of maintaining correct vowels during some of the highest parts of the duet but please pay attention to the vowels of both singers. Also, there are some long words and multisyllabic words; make sure to notice how they string the syllables together to make words rather than just syllables on pitch. And, as always, enjoy.
R

The Presentation of the Rose Der Rosenkavalier
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0O6Fnyz1Y0

Score - Begins on page 14

http://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/3/31/IMSLP154938-PMLP29341-Strauss_-_Der_Rosenkavalier_VS2_Sibley.1802.16777.pdf

OCTAVIAN
Mir ist die Ehre widerfahren, dass ich der hoch- und wohlgeborenen Jungfer Braut, in meines Herrn Vetters Namen, dessen zu Lerchenau Namen, die Rose seiner Liebe überreichen darf.

SOPHIE
Ich bin Euer Liebden sehr verbunden. - Ich bin Euer Liebden in aller Ewigkeit verbunden.
Hat einen starken Geruch. Wie Rosen, wie lebendige.

OCTAVIAN
Ja, ist ein Tropfen persischen Rosenöls darein getan.

SOPHIE
Wie himmlische, nicht irdische, wie Rosen vom hochheiligen Paradies. Ist Ihm nicht auch?
Ist wie ein Gruss vom Himmel. Ist bereits zu stark, als dass mans ertragen kann. Zieht einen nach, als lägen Stricke um das Herz.
Wo war ich schon einmal und war so selig?

OCTAVIAN
Wo war ich schon einmal und war so selig?

SOPHIE
Dahin muss ich zurück! und müsst' ich völlig sterben auf dem Weg! Allein ich sterb' ja nicht. Das ist ja weit. Ist Zeit und Ewigkeit in einem sel'gen Augenblick, den will ich nie vergessen bis an meinen Tod.

OCTAVIAN
Ich war ein Bub', da hab' ich die noch nicht gekannt. Wer bin denn ich? Wie komm' denn ich zu ihr? Wie kommt denn sie zu mir? Wär' ich kein Mann, die Sinne möchten mir vergehn. Das ist ein seliger Augenblick, den will ich nie vergessen bis an meinen Tod.

English
OCTAVIAN
On me the honour has befallen that I to you, his noble, high-born youthful bride, to come here as messenger at my cousin Lerchenau's bidding as token of his love offer you this rose.

SOPHIE
I am to Your Honour much indebted. I am to Your Honour, for all eternity indebted. There is a scent in its petals of roses, like the living ones.

OCTAVIAN
Yes, there's a drop of oil of Persian rose in its leafy part.

SOPHIE
A rose that is not earthly, like roses from gardens of Paradise. Is it not so? It's like a gift from Heaven! Oh, so sweet and red that no one dare breathe it again. Drawing me nigh, as though it were pulling at my heart. Where have I been before and felt such rapture?

OCTAVIAN
Where have I been before and felt such rapture?

A Little Light Listening

Hello All,

I had the idea to make your weekly video The Ride of the Valkyries from Wagner’s “Die Walküre.” But, though it would have been fun, it’s such a scream-fest it wouldn’t have taught anything to anyone about German diction. It did make me want to get some Wagner to you though. With that in mind, I offer you two videos. The total time of these videos is about 16 minutes but trust me, they’re going to seem much much longer. I’m reminded of what Mark Twain said after he went to Bayreuth the first time to see Wagner’s “The Ring.” When asked what he thought of it, he said something like, “The opera started promptly at 8:00 and after 3 hours of the most glorious music I’ve ever heard I looked at my watch and it was 8:15!” 

The first video is of Swedish Soprano (her German is exquisite) Birgit Nilsson singing the “Liebestod” from Tristan und Isolde.  This opera is looooong.  The first time I saw it was at a dress rehearsal which started at 10:00 in the morning and by the time the thing was over it was dark outside (Met dress rehearsals have very long intermissions).  And it’s not an easy time.  Music historians have settled on the idea that this is the piece where “modern music” was created.  Eventually you will study the “Tristan Chord” and this aria has it about nine zillion times.  Also known as the “Liebestod” this aria is the last thing in this 5 hour opera and it is a payoff worth the wait.  Please please please follow the score which I have provided a link to below and notice how simple it all looks on paper.  I am also providing a link to the text and translation.

Secondly we have Ben Heppner singing Walther’s Prize Song from Die Meistersinger. Unlike the Tristan excerpt, this is practically an art song - 3 verses in total. Heppner is Canadian but he is easily the most popular heldentenor of our time and his sung German is very idiomatic so it is worth using as an example. 

As always, please read the translations first so that you have a bit of an idea of what’s being said and then listen to the video while following the German. 

It’s Wagner so it seems scary but give it a try; If you will, it’ll be as rewarding as anything else I’ve sent you this semester.  Wagner seems so scary but it’s unbelievable stuff and though I’ve picked two of his longer operas to play from, as you can see, the music can be very tuneful and

R

Tristan und Isolde

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQGOUj3ONAg

Score

http://ks.petruccimusiclibrary.org/files/imglnks/usimg/1/1a/IMSLP338561-SIBLEY1802.24451.0fc1-39087011210962score.pdf

  

Die Meistersinger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQoPa9uagoU

Score ((Starts on page 538))

http://ks.petruccimusiclibrary.org/files/imglnks/usimg/e/e8/IMSLP21752-PMLP16799-Wagner_-_Die_Meistersinger_von_N__rnberg__vocal_score_.pdf

Liebestod

Mild und leise                       Mildly and gently,

wie er lächelt,                       how he smiles,

wie das Auge                        how the eye

hold er öffnet ---                   he opens sweetly ---

Seht ihr's, Freunde?              Do you see it, friends?

Seht ihr's nicht?                    Don’t you see it?

Immer lichter                        Brighter and brighter

wie er leuchtet,                     how he shines,

stern-umstrahlet                    illuminated by stars

hoch sich hebt?                     rises high?

Seht ihr's nicht?                    Don’t you see it?

Wie das Herz ihm                 How his heart

mutig schwillt,                      boldly swells,        

voll und hehr                         fully and nobly

im Busen ihm quillt?            wells in his breast?

Wie den Lippen,                   How from his lips

wonnig mild,                         delightfully, mildly,

süßer Atem                           sweet breath

sanft entweht ---                   softly wafts ---

Freunde! Seht!                      Friends! Look!

Fühlt und seht ihr's nicht?    Don’t you feel and see it?

Hör ich nur diese Weise,      Do I alone hear this melody,

die so wundervoll und leise, which wonderfully and softly,

Wonne klagend,                    lamenting delight,

alles sagend,                         telling it all,

mild versöhnend                   mildly reconciling

aus ihm tönend,                    sounds out of him,

in mich dringet,                    invades me,

auf sich schwinget,               swings upwards,

hold erhallend                       sweetly resonating

um mich klinget?                  rings around me?

Heller schallend,                   Sounding more clearly,

mich umwallend ---              wafting around me ---

Sind es Wellen                      Are these waves

sanfter Lüfte?                       of soft airs?

Sind es Wogen                      Are these billows

wonniger Düfte?                   of delightful fragrances?

Wie sie schwellen,                How they swell,

mich umrauschen,                 how they sough around me,

soll ich atmen,                      shall I breathe,

soll ich lauschen?                 Shall I listen?

Soll ich schlürfen,                 Shall I drink,

untertauchen?                       immerse?

Süß in Düften                       Sweetly in fragrances

mich verhauchen?                 melt away?

In dem wogenden Schwall,  In the billowing  torrent,

in dem tönenden Schall,       in the resonating sound,

in des Welt-Atems wehendem All ---in the wafting Universe of the World-Breath ---

ertrinken,                              drown,

versinken ---                         be engulfed ---

unbewußt ---                         unconscious ---

höchste Lust!                        supreme delight!Walther

The Prize Song

"Morgenlich leuchtend im rosigen Schein,
von Blüt und Duft
geschwellt die Luft,
voll aller Wonnen,
nie ersonnen,
ein Garten lud mich ein, -
dort unter einem Wunderbaum,
von Früchten reich behangen,
zu schaun in sel'gem Liebestraum,
was höchstem Lustverlangen.
Erfüllung kühn verhiess,
das schönste Weib:
Eva im Paradies."

"Abendlich dämmernd umschloss mich die Nacht;
auf steilem Pfad
war ich genaht
zu einer Quelle
reiner Welle,
die lockend mir gelacht:
dort unter einem Lorbeerbaum,
von Sternen hell durchschienen,
ich schaut im wachen Dichtertraum,
von heilig holden Mienen,
mich netzend mit dem edlen Nass,
das hehrste Weib,
die Muse des Parnass!"

"Huldreichster Tag,
dem ich aus Dichters Traum erwacht!
Das ich erträumt, das Paradies,
in himmlisch neu verklärter Pracht
hell vor mir lag,
dahin lachend nun der Quell den Pfad mir wies;
die, dort geboren,
den Ruhm erkoren,
der Erde lieblichstes Bild,
als Muse mir geweiht,
so heilig ernst als mild,
ward kühn von mir gefreit,
am lichten Tag der Sonnen,
durch Sanges Sieg gewonnen
Parnass und Paradies!"


Walther
"Shining in the rosy light of morning,
the air heavy
with blossom and scent,
full of every
unthought-of-joy,
a garden invited me
and, beneath a wondrous tree there,
richly hung with fruit,
to behold in blessed dream of love,
boldly promising fulfillment
to the highest of joy's desires,
the most beautiful woman:
Eva in Paradise."
"In the evening twilight, night enfolded me;
on a steep path
I had approached
a spring
of pure water,
which laughed enticingly to me:
there beneath a laurel-tree,
with stars shining brightly through its leaves,
in a poet's waking dream I beheld,
holy and fair of countenance,
and sprinkling me with the precious water,
the most wonderful woman,
the Muse of Parnassus!"
"Most gracious day,
to which I awoke from a poet's dream!
The Paradise of which I had dreamed
in heavenly, new-transfigured splendor
lay bright before me,
to which the spring laughingly now showed me the path;
she, born there,
my heart's elect,
earth's loveliest picture,
destined to be my Muse,
as holy and grave as she is mild,
was boldly wooed by me;
in the sun's bright daylight,
through victory in song, I had won
Parnassus and Paradise!"  

My Bromance

Hello All,

  Last week I asked you to indulge me and sent you two longish videos with not a great deal of German but hopefully you found them worth it. This week’s videos are an indulgence of a different type. If last week I sent you what I consider to be the best piece of music ever written (to the extent that there is such a thing) this week I’m sending you videos of who I consider to be the greatest singer on record (again, this is a silly thing to think but there it is). Fritz Wunderlich was born in 1930 in Kusel, Germany in the southwest corner of the country and died 5 days after I was born in 1966. His death was caused by a drunken fall down some stairs at a friend’s hunting lodge while on vacation. Remember, don’t drink and stair!

Fortunately for us, Wunderlich left an extremely large discography for a man who died at 36 years old and recorded almost entirely in German no matter what the repertoire. The first video is a live performance with piano of “Dies Bildnis” from Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” We’re concerned here with diction but do pay attention as the man gives a masterclass in ease of technique in this video. The second video contains 4 songs by Schubert. All I’m asking is for you to listen to the first two, Heidenröslein and Die Forelle; two songs which are such standard rep. you should learn them if you don’t know them already.  And the final video is of a Mexican song called “Granada” by Agustin Lara. Oddly, this song has been famous for a long time and basically holds the same place in the rep. as any Neapolitan song ever written. Here of course Wunderlich sings in German which is odd but odder still is how he somehow keeps the language romantic so that you barely notice that it’s not Spanish or Italian. And enjoy the final high C which is just ridonculous!

This is a man who really caresses the German sounds but uses a legato line in a way that makes the language beautiful. What do you hear?

R

As always, texts, score links and translations follow the video links

Dies Bildnis video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TnruLf_haY

Score

http://conquest.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/9/95/IMSLP116728-WIMA.924d-03_tamin.pdf

Schubert Songs video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKza9KxrcwY

Score of Heidenröslein

http://erato.uvt.nl/files/imglnks/usimg/c/c1/IMSLP00890-Schubert_-_Heidenr__slein_Op3-3.pdf

Score of Die Forelle

http://erato.uvt.nl/files/imglnks/usimg/a/a8/IMSLP10602-SchubertD550d_Die_Forelle_4th_Version.pdf

Granada

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLxe14bA8og

Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön
Wie noch kein Auge je geseh'n!
Ich fühl' es, wie dies Götterbild
Mein Herz mit neuer Regung füllt.
Dies' etwas kann ich zwar nicht nennen,
Doch fühl' ichs hier wie Feuer brennen.
Soll die Empfindung Liebe sein?
Ja, ja, die Liebe ist's allein.
O, wenn ich sie nur finden könnte!
O, wenn sie doch schon vor mir stände!
Ich würde, würde, warm und rein,
Was würde ich? Ich würde sie voll Entzücken
An diesen heissen Busen drücken
Und ewig wäre sie dann mein.

This image is enchantingly lovely,
Like no eye has ever beheld!
I feel it as this divine picture,
Fills my heart with new emotion.
I cannot name my feeling,
Though I feel it burn like fire within me,
Could this feeling be love?
Yes! Yes! It is love alone!
Oh, if only I could find her,
If only she were standing before me,
I would, I would, with warmth and honor ...
What would I do? Full of rapture,
I would fold her in this glowing bosom,
And then she would be mine forever!

German

Sah ein Knab' ein Röslein stehn,
Röslein auf der Heiden,
War so jung und morgenschön,
Lief er schnell, es nah zu sehn,
Sah's mit vielen Freuden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot,
Röslein auf der Heiden.

Knabe sprach: Ich breche dich,
Röslein auf der Heiden!
Röslein sprach: Ich steche dich,
Daß du ewig denkst an mich,
Und ich will's nicht leiden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot,
Röslein auf der Heiden.

Und der wilde Knabe brach
's Röslein auf der Heiden;
Röslein wehrte sich und stach,
Half ihm doch kein Weh und Ach,
Mußt es eben leiden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot,
Röslein auf der Heiden.

Die Forelle
In einem Bächlein helle,
Da schoß in froher Eil
Die [launige]1 Forelle
Vorüber wie ein Pfeil.
Ich stand an dem Gestade
Und sah in süßer Ruh
Des muntern [Fisches]2 Bade
Im klaren Bächlein zu.

Ein Fischer mit der Rute
Wohl an dem Ufer stand,
Und sah's mit kaltem Blute,
Wie sich das Fischlein wand.
So lang dem Wasser Helle,
So dacht ich, nicht gebricht,
So fängt er die Forelle
Mit seiner Angel nicht.

Doch [plötzlich]3 ward dem Diebe
Die Zeit zu lang. Er macht
Das Bächlein tückisch trübe,
Und eh ich es gedacht,
So zuckte seine Rute,
Das Fischlein zappelt dran,
[Und ich mit regem Blute
Sah die Betrogene an.]4


A brooklet soft and gentle --
rushing on with glee --
A trout like arrow darting -
so playfully and free -
And standing by the brook-side
I gazed in pure delight.
At happy fishlet playing
In lucid brooklet bright.

A fisherman with rod stood
watching from nearby
He followed fishlet's movements
With cold and scheming eye.
"So long stays clear that brooklet"
I thought, with comfort sure
"He cannot trap my fishlet --
Or catch it with his lure."

But soon with crude impatience --
He broke the calm -
He stirred and muddied all that water --
And just as I had feared --
He tugged upon his rod --
And dangled my fishlet on his hook.
Oh, how my heart was burning
Betrayed were fish and brook!

Granada
Kennt ihr Granada bei Nacht?
Es locken die Schönen mit zärtlichen Tönen -- Granada.
Verliebte sie harren beim Klang der Gitarren -- Granada.
Auch mir lacht die Eine beim spanischen Weine in lauschiger Nacht.
Ich halte sie selig umfangen und sie kennt mein heißes Verlangen das Brennen erwacht.
Es grüßen von Ferne die silberne Sterne - Granada.
Nun dämmert es wieder berauscht sind die Lieder - Granada.
Es schimmern im hellblauen Morgen herüber die Berge der Sierra Nevada.
Wenn über Granada der Tag erwacht und golden die Sonne lacht in strahlender Pracht.
Granada, Märchen aus uralter Zeit,
Deine Schönheit lockt wie vor vielen hundert Jahren noch heut.
Dieses Lied will ich für dich heut singen.
Dieses Lied soll dir zum Ruhm erklingen.
Kennt ihr Granada bei Nacht?
Es grüßen ...
Kennt ihr Granada bei Nacht?

Do you know Granada by night?
Its beauties entice with sounds tender and nice -- Granada.
Guitars are beguiling, all lovers are smiling -- Granada.
I too found delight, so merry the night, with her Spanish wine.
Embracing with bliss her fiery kiss kindles this longing in me.
Each silvery star greets you from afar -- Granada.
Through the night there is singing, more wine they are bringing -- Granada.
Now shimmers the dawning, bright blue in the morning on hill-sides of Sierra Nevada.
Then over Granada the new day and sun pour gold down in bright streaming splendour.

Granada, you age-old fairy tale.
Your beauty, yet now, entices just how you have done so for hundreds of years.
This song will I sing for you today,
This song will sound forth your fame.
Do you know Granada by night?
English

Passing lad a rose blossom spied,
Blossom on the heath growing,
'Twas so fair and of youthful pride,
Raced he fast to be near its side,
Saw it with joy o'erflowing.
Blossom, blossom, blossom red,
Blossom on the heath growing.

Said the lad: I shall pick thee,
Blossom on the heath growing!
Blossom spoke: Then I'll prick thee,
That thou shalt ever think of me,
And I'll not be allowing.
Blossom, blossom, blossom red,
Blossom on the heath growing.

And the lusty lad did pick
The blossom on the heath growing;
Blossom, in defense, did prick,
'Twas, alas, but a harmless nick,
Had to be allowing.
Blossom, blossom, blossom red,
Blossom on the heath growing.