 | ||||
| What's New | Site Map | Bio | Contact | Links |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
Japanese Songs and Other Pieces |
Songs/Arias with Slide Show |
Galleries and Photography Info |
| Multimedia Performance | Past and Upcoming Dates | Bach Programs | Schubert-related Programs |
|---|
| Schubert-related Programs | Schubert's 1825 Travel with Photos | "Water Songs and Water Landscapes," Multimedia Show | "Wasser Lieder und Wasser Landschaften" |
|---|
 Gliding Swan on Lake Traun Gmunden, Austria |
 One-Man Scull on Alte Donau Vienna, Austria |
 Traunstein in Alpenglow from the Pier, Altmünster, Austria |
 Early Evening at the Danube, Duernstein, Austria |
|
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 The bouncing rowboat glides like swans Ah, over the gently shimmering waves of joy Glides the soul like the rowboat. Ah, over the gently shimmering waves of joy 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 grove in the west The red glow in the sky winks to us; Below the branches of the grove in the east The reeds rustle in the red glow of the water. Below the branches of the grove in the east The reeds rustle in the red glow of the water. Heavenly joy and the peace of the groves The soul breathes in the evening glow, The soul breathes in the evening glow. Ah, time fades away from me With wet wings on rocking waves. Time flies on shimmering wings Tomorrow just like yesterday and today. Time flies on shimmering wings Tomorrow just like yesterday and today. Until I myself on more highly radiant wings Flee from the changing time. Flee from the changing time. |
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.
Keywords: Auf dem Wasser zu singen, Lied, Franz Schubert, Leopold Graf zu Stollberg, swans,
Himmel, Freude, Kalmus, Schimmer, Kahn, Welle, Spiegel, Wasser, Gmunden, Altmünster, Austria, boat, gliding, harmonic progressions, key structure, major, minor, A-flat, translation, interpretation, Tomoko Yamamoto