Er stellt sich vor sein Spiegelglas

 

Er stellt sich vor sein Spiegelglas - (2012)    

Wilhelm Busch

for medium voice and piano

 

Er stellt sich vor sein Spiegelglas
Und arrangiert noch dies und das.
Er dreht hinaus des Bartes Spitzen,
Sieht zu, wie seine Ringe blitzen,
Probiert auch mal, wie sich das macht,
Wenn er so herzgewinnend lacht,
Übt seines Auges Zauberkraft,
Legt die Krawatte musterhaft,
Wirft einen süßen Scheideblick
Auf sein geliebtes Bild zurück,
Geht dann hinaus zur Promenade,
Umschwebt vom Dufte der Pomade,
Und ärgert sich als wie ein Stint,
Daß andre Leute eitel sind.

3 pages, circa 2' 00"

Wilhelm Busch

 

At his mirror he poses that
He might arrange his this and that.
He twists and turns moustache and beard,
And by the glint of his rings is cheered,
Trying things out, only just to see,
He chuckles aloud with glorious glee.
Seeing himself through admiring eyes,
He knots his cravat with endearing sighs.
He throws himself a parting glance,
Giving his mirror one last chance,
And off he struts to promenade,
While wafting about is his pomade,
And yet he's annoyed like a little boy
For other folks' vanity does him so annoy.

 

rhymed paraphrase by the composer

Copyright 2012  ©   Gary Bachlund    All international rights reserved.

 

 

The lengthy verse is broken into three sections for the musical setting, creating an A-A-B form. after a jaunty and aggressively bright introduction, a two- and three-voiced texture accompanies the strophes, reaching by diatonic thirds large expanses. The vocal line is declamatory, meant to be tongue-in-cheek and cheeky. After the two verses, a little waltz-like answer makes the last two lines of the poem into the musical punch line as well. For this within the duple meter, the written-out waltz interrupts before a final reprise of the first theme of the setting.

 

 

The score for Er stellt sich vor sein Spiegelglas 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.

 

Er stellt sich vor sein Spiegelglas