Lied des Harfenmädchens

 

Lied des Harfenmädchens - (2011)    

Theodor Storm

for medium voice and piano


 

Heute, nur heute
bin ich so schön,
morgen, ach, morgen
muß alles vergeh'n!

Nur diese Stunden
bist du noch mein;
sterben, ach, sterben
soll ich allein.

[ 1 page, circa 1' 20" ]


Theodor Storm

 

Today, just for today
you see me fair this way,
tomorrow, o tomorrow
will all this pass away.

For only this brief hour
are we in passing ours;
we die, o yes we die
alone as death devours.

 

gb

 

 

The text is found in Storm's 1849 novella, Immensee (Bee's Lake) in a scene at Christmas eve in a Ratskeller, as a Bohemian girl with a zither is asked for a song. For a silver coin she sings this "in a deep, passionate voice." For other settings of Storm's poetry, click here.

 

 

The score is available as a free PDF download, though any major commercial performance or recording of the work is prohibited without prior arrangement with the composer. Click on the graphic below for this piano-vocal score.

 

Lied des Harfenmädchens