Lyndon LaRouche insisted that German “Lieder” (songs) functioned as a Rosetta Stone for understanding classical musical composition and encouraged the study of how different composers set the same poem- for example, looking at the similarities to get at the principle of vocalization.
Here is a comparison of the different settings of “Kennst du das Land?” (Do you know the land?), sung by the tormented character Mignon in Goethe’s novel “Wilhelm Meister”, as composed by Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann, and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Schubert (Janet Baker/Gerald Moore): https://youtu.be/cgVg7iS8Z-0
Schumann (Edith Mathis/Christoph Eschenbach): https://youtu.be/HGRmnOAw6IU
Beethoven: (Rachel Willis-Sørensen/Alexander Schmalcz): https://youtu.be/TEGHR_aUlfE
Translation:
Do you know the land where the lemons blossom,
Where oranges grow golden among dark leaves,
A gentle wind drifts from the blue sky,
The myrtle stands silent, the laurel tall,
Do you know it?
It is there, it is there
I long to go with you, my love.
Do you know the house? Columns support its roof,
Its great hall gleams, its apartments shimmer,
And marble statues stand and stare at me:
What have they done to you, poor child?
Do you know it?
It is there, it is there
I long to go with you, my protector.
Do you know the mountain and its cloudy path?
The mule seeks its way through the mist,
Caverns house the dragons’ ancient brood;
The rock falls sheer, the torrent over it,
Do you know it?
It is there, it is there
Our pathway lies! O father, let us go!
Translation by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)
Schumann: Lieder und Gesänge aus 'Wilhelm Meister', Op.98a - 1. Kennst du das Land
Beethoven: 6 Gesänge, Op.75 - 1. Kennst du das Land
Schumann: Lieder und Gesänge aus 'Wilhelm Meister', Op.98a - 1. Kennst du das Land
Beethoven: 6 Gesänge, Op.75 - 1. Kennst du das Land
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John Scialdone published this page in Daily Beethoven 2021-04-06 09:26:29 -0400