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.
Die Junge Nonne D.828
Franz Schubert Lyrics
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Es klirren die Balken, es zittert das Haus!
Es rollet der Donner, es leuchtet der Blitz,
Und finster die Nacht, wie das Grab!
Immerhin, immerhin, so tobt′ es auch jüngst noch in mir!
Es brauste das Leben, wie jetzo der Sturm,
Es bebten die Glieder, wie jetzo das Haus,
Und finster die Brust, wie das Grab.
Nun tobe, du wilder, gewalt'ger Sturm,
Im Herzen ist Friede, im Herzen ist Ruh,
Des Bräutigams harret die liebende Braut,
Gereinigt in prüfender Glut,
Der ewigen Liebe getraut.
Ich harre, mein Heiland, mit sehnendem Blick!
Komm, himmlischer Bräutigam, hole die Braut,
Erlöse die Seele von irdischer Haft.
Horch, friedlich ertönet das Glöcklein vom Turm!
Es lockt mich das süsse Getön
Allmächtig zu ewigen Höh′n.
Alleluia!
The lyrics of Franz Schubert's song Die Junge Nonne D.828 describe a young nun who, during a fierce storm, is reminded of the tumultuous emotions she felt in her youth. As she listens to the wind howling outside and feels the house shaking, she is transported back to a time when she experienced passionate love, much like the lightning that illuminates the darkness. She compares her heart, now peaceful and still, to the chaos of the storm. The young nun then calls out to her savior, asking him to come and take her as his bride, to free her from earthly existence and deliver her to eternal happiness. As the song ends, she hears the sound of a church bell tolling peacefully in the distance, calling her to the divine realm.
The song depicts a contrast between the tumultuousness of earthly existence and the peace that comes when one is united with God. It also presents the idea that even in times of turmoil, one can find solace in the steady presence of a savior. The lyrics highlight the importance of faith and the quest for eternal fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Wie braust durch die Wipfel der heulende Sturm!
The howling storm roars through the treetops.
Es klirren die Balken, es zittert das Haus!
The beams rattle, the house trembles!
Es rollet der Donner, es leuchtet der Blitz,
Thunder rolls, lightning illuminates!
Und finster die Nacht, wie das Grab!
The night is as dark as the grave!
Immerhin, immerhin, so tobt′ es auch jüngst noch in mir!
Nevertheless, the storm still rages inside of me!
Es brauste das Leben, wie jetzo der Sturm,
Life rushed like the current storm!
Es bebten die Glieder, wie jetzo das Haus,
The limbs trembled like the house now does!
Es flammte die Liebe, wie jetzo der Blitz,
Love flamed like the lightning now does!
Und finster die Brust, wie das Grab.
The chest is as dark as the grave.
Nun tobe, du wilder, gewalt'ger Sturm,
Now rage, you wild, mighty storm!
Im Herzen ist Friede, im Herzen ist Ruh,
Peace and calm reign in the heart!
Des Bräutigams harret die liebende Braut,
The loving bride waits for the bridegroom!
Gereinigt in prüfender Glut,
Purified in the fiery crucible!
Der ewigen Liebe getraut.
Given to eternal love.
Ich harre, mein Heiland, mit sehnendem Blick!
I wait with a longing gaze, my Savior!
Komm, himmlischer Bräutigam, hole die Braut,
Come, heavenly bridegroom, fetch the bride!
Erlöse die Seele von irdischer Haft.
Free the soul from earthly bondage.
Horch, friedlich ertönet das Glöcklein vom Turm!
Listen, the peaceful bell rings from the tower!
Es lockt mich das süsse Getön
The sweet sound tempts me
Allmächtig zu ewigen Höh′n.
To Almighty eternal heights.
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Contributed by Anthony H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.