Auf dem Wasser zu singen
Translation by © Tomoko Yamamoto
| Mitten im Schimmer der spiegelnden Wellen Gleitet, wie Schwäne, der wankende Kahn; Ach, auf der Freude sanftschimmernden Wellen Gleitet die Seele dahin wie der Kahn, Ach, auf der Freude sanftschimmernden Wellen Gleitet die Seele dahin wie der Kahn; Denn von dem Himmel herab auf die Wellen Tanzet das Abendrot rund um den Kahn, Tanzet das Abendrot rund um den Kahn. Über den Wipfeln des westlichen Haines Winket uns freundlich der rötliche Schein; Unter den Zweigen des östlichen Haines Säuselt der Kalmus im rötlichen Schein, Unter den Zweigen des östlichen Haines Säuselt der Kalmus im rötlichen Schein; Freude des Himmels und Ruhe des Haines Atmet die Seel im errötenden Schein, Atmet die Seel im errötenden Schein. Ach, es entschwindet mit tauigem Flügel Mir auf den wiegenden Wellen die Zeit. Morgen entschwinde mit schimmerndem Flügel Wieder wie gestern und heute die Zeit, Morgen entschwinde mit schimmerndem Flügel Wieder wie gestern und heute die Zeit, Bis ich auf höherem strahlenden Flügel Selber entschwinde der wechselnden Zeit, Selber entschwinde der wechselnden Zeit. | In the midst of the shimmer of reflecting waves Like swans, glides the bouncing rowboat Ah, over the joyous, gently-shimmering waves Glides the soul like the rowboat. Ah, over the joyous, gently-shimmering waves Glides the soul like the rowboat. From the heaven on down the waves Dances the evening glow around the boat Dances the evening glow around the boat Above the top of the western grove Friendly greets us the red glow; Below the branches of the eastern grove The reeds rustle in the red glow. Below the branches of the eastern grove The reeds rustle in the red glow. Heavenly joy and the peace of the groves The soul breathes in the evening glow, The soul breathes in the evening glow. Ah, disappears from me with the dewey wings On rocking waves, flies the time Disappears tomorrow on shimmering wings Just like yesterday and today, flies the time. Disappears tomorrow on shimmering wings Just like yesterday and today, flies the time. Until I myself on more highly radiant wings Flee from the changing time. Flee from the changing time. |
Note: The text shown above is the exactly the way Franz Schubert used the text when he set it to music including the repeats, which reflect the repeats in the music. The original text may not have repeating phrases.
The poet, Leopold Graf zu Stollberg, was with Goethe on his trip to Zurich and the lake. We don`t know where he was when he wrote this poem. Swans are everywhere on rivers and lakes in Austria and Switzerland. The last and third stanza is somewhat puzzling as to the intention of the poet. He says "I myself will put on the shining wings and fly away like the time."
Maureen Schafer has written a "macro analysis of the music of "Auf dem Wasser zu singen." She analyzed its key progression structure and suggests that Schubert's use of harmonic progressions and rhythmic patterns musically illustrates the theme of this poem. The whole song including the piano prelude and postlude begins in a-flat minor and ends in A-flat major, but each stanza (song part) begins in a-flat minor and ends in A-flat major, which repeats twice.
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