Born in the Himmelpfortgrund suburb of Vienna, Schubert showed uncommon gifts for music from an early age. His father gave him his first violin lessons and his elder brother gave him piano lessons, but Schubert soon exceeded their abilities. In 1808, at the age of eleven, he became a pupil at the Stadtkonvikt school, where he became acquainted with the orchestral music of Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven. He left the Stadtkonvikt at the end of 1813 and returned home to live with his father, where he began studying to become a schoolteacher. Despite this, he continued his studies in composition with Antonio Salieri and still composed prolifically. In 1821, Schubert was admitted to the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde as a performing member, which helped establish his name among the Viennese citizenry. He gave a concert of his works to critical acclaim in March 1828, the only time he did so in his career. He died eight months later at the age of 31, the cause officially attributed to typhoid fever, but believed by some historians to be syphilis.
Appreciation of Schubert's music while he was alive was limited to a relatively small circle of admirers in Vienna, but interest in his work increased greatly in the decades following his death. Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms and other 19th-century composers discovered and championed his works. Today, Schubert is ranked among the greatest composers in the history of Western classical music and his work continues to be admired and widely performed.
Bach
Franz Schubert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dein Singen, dein Klingen
War es also gemeint?
Zur Müllerin hin! So lautet der Sinn
Gelt, hab' ich's verstanden?
Zur Müllerin hin!
Oder hast mich berückt?
Das möcht ich noch wissen
Ob sie dich geschickt
Nun wie's auch mag sein ich gebe mich drein:
Was ich such, hab ich funden
Wie's immer mag sein
Nach Arbeit ich frug nun hab ich genug
Für die Hände, fürs Herze vollauf genug!
These lyrics are from Franz Schubert's song "Bach," which is part of his song cycle "Die schöne Müllerin" (The Beautiful Miller's Wife). In this particular section, the singer questions the intentions behind the singing and sounds he hears. He wonders if they were meant for him, directed at him by someone else, or if they were meant to lead him towards his beloved Miller's daughter.
The singer asks, "War es also gemeint mein rauschender Freund? Dein Singen, dein Klingen. War es also gemeint?" This can be translated as, "Was it intended for me, my uproarious friend? Your singing, your sound. Was it intended so?" He is unsure if the sounds he hears are meant to guide him or if they have any significance in his pursuit of love and happiness.
Then, he exclaims, "Zur Müllerin hin! So lautet der Sinn. Gelt, hab' ich's verstanden? Zur Müllerin hin!" which can be translated as, "To the Miller's daughter! That's the meaning. Right, have I understood? To the Miller's daughter!" Here, he contemplates whether the sounds he heard were a sign to lead him towards the Miller's daughter, the woman he desires.
In the next part, he questions whether the Miller's daughter sent these sounds or if he was simply enchanted by them. He asks, "Hat sie dich geschickt? Oder hast mich berückt? Das möcht ich noch wissen. Ob sie dich geschickt," which translates to "Did she send you? Or did you enchant me? That I would still like to know. Whether she sent you." He wonders if the Miller's daughter had a hand in this or if he was swayed by the allure of the sounds.
Finally, he accepts the situation, saying, "Nun wie's auch mag sein, ich gebe mich drein. Was ich such, hab' ich funden. Wie's immer mag sein. Nach Arbeit ich frug, nun hab' ich genug für die Hände, fürs Herze vollauf genug!" This translates to "Now, however it may be, I give in. What I was seeking, I have found. However it may be. I asked for work, now I have enough, enough for my hands, enough for my heart!" He resigns himself to the uncertainty of the sounds' intentions but finds solace in the fact that his search for meaningful work has ended, bringing satisfaction to both his hands and his heart.
Overall, these lyrics capture the singer's introspective and emotional journey as he navigates his desires, uncertainties, and the role of the sounds he hears in his pursuit of love.
Line by Line Meaning
War es also gemeint mein rauschender Freund?
Was your singing, your sounding, meant in this way, my resounding friend?
Dein Singen, dein Klingen
Your singing, your sounding
War es also gemeint?
Was it meant in this way?
Zur Müllerin hin! So lautet der Sinn
To the miller's daughter! That is the meaning, isn't it?
Gelt, hab' ich's verstanden?
Right, have I understood it?
Zur Müllerin hin!
To the miller's daughter!
Hat sie dich geschickt?
Did she send you?
Oder hast mich berückt?
Or did you mesmerize me?
Das möcht ich noch wissen
I would still like to know
Ob sie dich geschickt
If she sent you
Nun wie's auch mag sein ich gebe mich drein:
Now, no matter how it may be, I submit myself to it
Was ich such, hab ich funden
What I was searching for, I have found
Wie's immer mag sein
No matter how it may be
Nach Arbeit ich frug nun hab ich genug
I asked for work, now I have enough
Für die Hände, fürs Herze vollauf genug!
For the hands, for the heart, plenty enough!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
rk
I heard by accident, while working outside in the garden, just a few notes of this whispering from an old radio out of the garage and immediately ran off to Shazam the thing. I got very excited, because it sounded so play- yet adorable in the first place. Well, the sheet turned out to be a typical "Liszt - In your average piano skill - face", but your interpretation is a gift to listen.
musicfanBRA
Marvellous, just marvellous! What a gift for my soul. Thank you, Valentina!
TELarson58
What a surprise! As a vocal major in college I studied this song, sang this song and have listened to it performed by the best. But here I am enjoying it more than ever. Knowing the text is, of course, essential and the sensitivity with which it is played transports me into a wonderful state of muse have over the years lived this song.
Geoffio
I love how delicate this is performed! This piano responds so well to your playing. Thank you for posting this! In the last year I have become a huge fan of yours.
Марина Сербина
Грустная нежность!Звучит завораживающе!💐💖👏👏👏
Airdrop37th
Thanks so much for sharing your videos Valentina. Me and my family are simply amazed and respectful of your ability and are an inspiration for my 10 year old daughter who is learning to play piano.
MG Tube
Quanta passione dedichi alla musica! Semplicemente meravigliosa!!!
Domé Ramon
Quelle maestria ! Que de travail pour notre bonheur et notre joie !!!
MERCI Valentina !
Sávio Lóz
Muito bom. Parabéns.
Mike's Channel
Oh my goodness. It is a gift from heaven! Thank you Ms. Lisitsa.