Soundtrack Of My Life

"Ständchen" (Schwanengesang) - Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

When I first got into classical music I, in my ignorance, assumed Schubert to be a second-tier composer. Then I listened to his work - the symphonies, the piano works, the lieder - and rapidly revised my opinion. The man is most definitely on the A-list, and you can only wonder what he'd have produced had he not, like Mozart before him, met his demise at far too young an age.

Out of all his works, the lieder are the ones I'm probably least keen on. However this one is one of my favourites and fairly appropriate for Valentine's Day, though I'm a day late in getting it on the list.

In case you're wondering what it's about, here's a translation lifted from the web. Hopefully the copyright statements will prevent me from being sued!


Softly my songs plead
through the night to you;
down into the silent grove,
beloved, come to me!

Slender treetops whisper and rustle
in the moonlight;
my darling, do not fear
that the hostile betrayer will overhear us.

Do you not hear the nightingales call?
Ah, they are imploring you;
with their sweet, plaintive songs
they are imploring for me.

They understand the heart’s yearning,
they know the pain of love;
with their silvery notes
they touch every tender heart.

Let your heart, too, be moved,
beloved, hear me!
Trembling, I await you!
Come, make me happy!


English translation © Richard Wigmore
Translations by Richard Wigmore first published by Gollancz and reprinted in the Hyperion Schubert Song Edition