歡樂颂

(德) 約翰.克里斯朵夫.費列迪克.逢.席勒 (1759 –1805)

–My New Year wish to all as we enter the second decade of the 21st century YK, Ottawa

“Ode To Joy” is an ode written in 1785 by the German poet, playwright and historian Friedrich Schiller, celebrating the ideal of unity and brotherhood of all mankind. It is best known for its musical setting by Ludwig van Beethoven in the final movement of his Ninth Symphony (completed in 1824), a choral symphony for orchestra, four solo voices and choir.¹

The Beethoven setting became the official anthem of the European Union in 1972; the former anthem of Rhodesia used its tune. It has been used in a number of other contexts; possibly the most famous use of it in American popular culture is within the Die Hard franchise. It was also used as a plot point in Stanley Kubrick’s 1971 movie A Clockwork Orange.

[From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_to_Joy]

¹ Video clips

• Leonard Bernstein comments and conducts the Vienna Philharmonic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZJ1Tgf4JL8&NR=1
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9V5yUsrmdg&feature=related
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_5z0m7cs0A&feature=related
A performance in the Annual Concert 2011 (Harmonie) of Wah Yan College, Kowloon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEsibyhNCUU

Words written by Beethoven (not Schiller) are shown in italics. (http://raptusassociation.org/ode1785.html.)

^* The vocal part of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony thus ends with the final word”Götterfunken” (literally, “Godly-spark”).

For introduction, see “La Primavera” Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Itzhak Perlman (violin) performing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: Winter

I.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBq4ov5Y_84&feature=related

II.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dggfA9Vo64U&feature=related

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8DzsScxhBE&feature=related

Tr. YK Chan 陈耀国譯

Der Lindenbaum is the 5^th of the Winterreise (Winter Journey 冬之旅) cycle of 24 poems by Wilhelm Müller, best known as the song cycle set for voice and piano by Franz Schubert (D. 911, published as Op. 89 in 1827). It is the second of Schubert’s two great song cycles on Müller’s poems. It was originally written for tenor voice but also transcribed for other voice ranges.

Poem/lyric synopsis:  “The wanderer comes to the linden tree, with its pale flowers and heart-shaped leaves that stands at the gate. In the shade of this tree he has dreamt many beautiful dreams, and in the bark he has carved words of love. It was his favourite place. Now he passes it with his eyes shut, even though it is deepest night, but the branches rustle to him, ‘Come to me weary traveler, You’ll find your peace with me’. A gust of wind blows his hat off, and many hours afterwards he remembers the tree, and it seems to say ‘You’ll find your peace with me.’ It is a tacit invitation to suicide.”

[Cf. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winterreise; http://www.gopera.com/winterreise/articles/rp_lied05.mv] 

Sung by:

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyxMMg6bxrg&feature=related

Alexander Kipnis (bass) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdLVzVkvRcg&feature=related

 1.  Wiegenlied (Op. 49, No. 4)            Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Sung by:

Hermann Prey (baritone) –

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6VEkG09Qkc&feature=more_related

Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano) – 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YphiCF3bxrE

Elisabeth Schumann (soprano)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aeTY4fhxA4&feature=related

Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti (tenors) – 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHVaw4FYXCQ

Note: The first verse is taken from a collection of German folk poems called Des Knaben Wunderhorn.

Guten Abend, gut Nacht,

Mit Rosen bedacht,

Mit Näglein besteckt,

Schlupf unter die Deck’:

Morgen früh, wenn Gott will,

Wirst du wieder geweckt.

Guten Abend, gut Nacht,

Von Englein bewacht,

Die zeigen im Traum

Dir Christkindleins Baum:

Schlaf nun selig und süß,

Schau im Traum’s Paradies.

Tr. Emily Ezust

Good evening, good night,

Bedecked with roses,

Covered with carnations,

Slip under the blanket

Early tomorrow, God willing,

Will you be waken again.

Good evening, good night,

Guarded by angels,

Who indicate to you by dream

The tree of the Christ child:

Sleep now blissfully and sweetly,

Behold Paradise in your dreams.

 2.      For a long time this Wiegenlied was attributed to Mozart (K. 350 – 1780). However it is now believed to be by Bernhard Flies (~ 1770 – ?) from the theatre play “Esther” (Leipzig 1795) written by Friedrich Wilhelm Gotter (1746-1797).

Renditions by:

Karin Shifrin (mezzo-soprano) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA4IUgihLio

Esther Ofarim (soprano) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eKcfd0_CsU

Vienna Boys Choir – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPOzkkHBAqo

Hayley Westenra (soprano) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUJN3KznBRE&feature=related

Schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein,
es ruhn Schäfchen und Vögelein.
Gärten und Wiesen verstummt,
auch nicht ein Bienchen mehr summt.
Luna mit silbernem Schein
Gucket zum Fenster herein;
schlafe beim silbernen Schein!
Schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein!
Schlaf ein, schlaf ein!

Alles im Schlosse schon liegt,

alles in Schlummer gewiegt,

reget kein Mäuschen sich mehr,

Keller und Küche sind leer,

nur in der Zofe Gemach

tönet ein schmachtendes Ach!

Was für ein Ach mag dies sein?

Schlafe, mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein.

Wer ist beglückter als Du?
Nichts als Vergnügen und Ruh
Spielwerk und Zucker vollauf
und noch Karossen im Lauf
Alles besorgt und bereit,
daß nur mein Prinzchen nicht schreit
Was wird das künftig noch sein?
Schlafe mein Prinzchen, schlaf ein.
Schlaf ein, schlaf ein.

Tr. Emily Ezust

Sleep, my little prince, fall asleep:

 the lambs and birdies are resting,

 the garden and meadow are silent,

 and even the little bee hums no more.

 Luna with a silver gleam

 is pouring her light into the window.

 Sleep by the silvery light,

 sleep, my little prince, fall asleep!

 Everyone in the castle is already lying down:

 everyone is cradled in slumber,

 and even the little mouse rustles no more.

 The cellar and kitchen are empty,

 only in the chambermaid’s quarters

 one can hear a languishing sigh!

 What kind of sigh might this be?

 Sleep, my little prince, fall asleep!

 Who is happier than you?

 Nothing but amusement and rest!

 Toys and sugar enough,

 and even a stately coach to convey you;

 everyone is careful and ready

 so that my little prince will not shriek.

 But what will the future bring?

 Sleep, my little prince, fall asleep.

3.  Wiegenlied (D. 498, op. 98 No. 2)              Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Sung by:

Gundula Janowitz (soprano) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSII_tDIBa4&NR=1

Irmgard Seefried (soprano) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3r3FzAGqeE&feature=related

Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2zXK-qyOXQ

Schlafe, schlafe, holder süßer Knabe,
Leise wiegt dich deiner Mutter Hand;
Sanfte Ruhe, milde Labe
Bringt dir schwebend dieses Wiegenband.

Schlafe, schlafe in dem süßen Grabe,
Noch beschützt dich deiner Mutter Arm,
Alle Wünsche, alle Habe
Faßt sie lieben, alle liebwarm.

Schlafe, schlafe in der Flaumen Schoße,
Noch umtönt dich lauter Liebeston,
Eine Lilie, eine Rose,
Nach dem Schlafe werd’ sie dir zum Lohn.

Tr. Linda Godry

Do sleep, do sleep, lovely, sweet boy,

To the gentle rocking of your mother’s hand;

Peaceful sleep, and recreation

Does come floating with each gentle pull.

Do sleep, do sleep in your sweet berth,

Still protected by your mother’s arm,

All her wishes, all your talents

Encompassing, in her steady love.

Do sleep, do sleep, in that downy embrace,

Still you only hear a gentle crooning,

Dewy flowers: lilies and roses,

After slumber they will be your prize.

Renée Fleming as Rusalka in NY Met production

捷克歌剧<露莎尓卡>之女高音咏叹調<唱给月亮>

Soprano aria from Rusalka, a Czech opera by Antonín Dvořák. The Czech libretto was written by

the poet Jaroslav Kvapil based on the fairy tales of Karel Jaromír Erben and Božena Němcová.  

A Rusalka (soprano) is a water sprite of Slavic mythology, usually inhabiting a lake or river. 

The story is similar to that of Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid.

Aria setup: In Act I, Rusalka (soprano) sings her Song to the Moon, asking it to tell the

Prince of her love.

[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusalka_(opera)]

Renditions by:

Lucia Popp - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoPTh_q7GYs&feature=related;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvenKSl2AG8

Renée Fleming - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tImMZLfHaE&feature=related

Frederica von Stade (mezzo-soprano) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPikNbAO994&feature=related

Translation by Jules Brunelle

Mesicku na nebi hlubokem                     O moon high up in the deep, deep sky,

Svetlo tvé daleko vidi,                      Your light sees far away regions,

Po svete bloudis sirokém,                   You travel round the wide,

Divas se v pribytky lidi.                    Wide world peering into human dwellings

Mesicku, postuj chvili                       O, moon, stand still for a moment,

reckni mi, kde je muj mily                   Tell me, ah, tell me where is my lover!

Rekni mu, stribmy mesicku,                   Tell him, please, silvery moon in the sky,

me ze jej objima rame,                       That I am hugging him firmly,

aby si alespon chvilicku                     That he should for at least a while

vzpomenul ve sneni na mne.                   Remember his dreams!

Zasvet mu do daleka,                         Light up his far away place,

rekni mu, rekni m kdo tu nan ceka!           Tell him, ah, tell him who is here waiting!

O mneli duse lidska sni,                     If he is dreaming about me,

at'se tou vzpominkou  vzbudi!                May this remembrance waken him!

Mesicku, nezhasni, nezhasni!                 O, moon, don't disappear, disappear!

Das Wandern  is the first of the Die schöne Müllerin 漂亮的磨房姑娘 (op. 25, D. 795) cycle of 20 poems by Wilhelm Müller, best known as the song cycle set for voice and piano by Franz Schubert 舒伯特.  It is the first of Schubert’s two great song cycles on Müller’s poems. It was originally written for tenor voice but also transcribed for other voice ranges. 

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Song setup: At the beginning of the cycle, a young journeyman miller wanders happily through the countryside.

Renditions by: 

• Friedrich Fischer-Dieskau (baritone) –http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5gWlmJqaB4&feature=related

• Fritz wunderlich (tenor) – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJdg-DpYRXc

Das Wandern ist des Müllers Lust,

Das Wandern!

Das muß ein schlechter Müller sein,

Dem niemals fiel das Wandern ein,

Das Wandern.

Vom Wasser haben wir's gelernt,

Vom Wasser!

Das hat nicht Rast bei Tag und Nacht,

Ist stets auf Wanderschaft bedacht,

Das Wasser.

Das sehn wir auch den Rädern ab,

Den Rädern!

Die gar nicht gerne stille stehn,

Die sich mein Tag nicht müde drehn,

Die Räder.

Die Steine selbst, so schwer sie sind,

Die Steine!

Sie tanzen mit den muntern Reihn

Und wollen gar noch schneller sein,

Die Steine.

O Wandern, Wandern, meine Lust,

O Wandern!

Herr Meister und Frau Meisterin,

Laßt mich in Frieden weiterziehn

Und wandern.

Tr. Emily Ezust:

Wandering is the miller's joy,

Wandering!

He must be a miserable miller,

Who never likes to wander.

Wandering!

We've learned this from the water,

From the water!

It does not rest by day or night,

It's always thinking of its journey,

The water.

We see this also with the wheels,

With the wheels!

They don't like to stand still,

And turn all day without tiring.

With the wheels.

The stones themselves, heavy though they are,

The stones!

They join in the cheerful dance,

And want to go yet faster.

The stones!

Oh, wandering, wandering, my joy,

Oh, wandering!

Oh, Master and Mistress,

Let me continue in peace,

And wander!

莫扎特德文歌劇”魔笛”夜女皇咏嘆調

Soprano aria from The Magic Flute (German: Die Zauberflöte, K. 620), an opera in two acts composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is in the form of a Singspiel, a popular form that included both singing and spoken dialogue.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magic_Flute)

Aria setup: The aria forms part of the second act of the opera. It depicts a fit of vengeful rage, in which the Queen of the Night (soprano) puts a knife into the hand of her daughter Pamina and exhorts her to assassinate Sarastro, the Queen’s rival, on pain of denying and cursing Pamina if she does not comply. “The Queen of the Night Aria” is considered to be one of the most famous opera arias, highly memorable, fast paced and menacingly grandiose. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Der_H%C3%B6lle_Rache_kocht_in_meinem_Herzen)

Renditions by:

Edita Gruberova – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HXHTHgNfnw&feature=related

Edda Moser – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFJiczQZwhY&feature=related

Natalie Dessay – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qqDKUKvoIs&feature=related

Diana Damrau – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXOYcd6KZ0E&feature=related

English translation by Aaron Green

(http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/opera/qt/derhollerache.htm)

Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen,

The vengeance of Hell boils in my heart,
Tod und Verzweiflung flammet um mich her!
Death and despair flame about me!

Fühlt nicht durch dich Sarastro
If Sarastro does not through you feel
Todesschmerzen,
The pain of death,

So bist du meine Tochter nimmermehr.
Then you will be my daughter nevermore.

Verstossen sei auf ewig,
Disowned may you be forever,
Verlassen sei auf ewig,
Abandoned may you be forever,
Zertrümmert sei’n auf ewig
Destroyed be forever

Alle Bande der Natur
All the bonds of nature,

Wenn nicht durch dich!
If not through you

Sarastro wird erblassen!
Sarastro becomes pale! (as death)

Hört, Rachegötter,
Hear, Gods of Revenge,

Hört der Mutter Schwur!

Hear a mother’s oath!