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.
Winterreise: Der Leiermann
Franz Schubert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Und mit starren Fingern
Dreht er, was er kann
Barfuß auf dem Eise wankt er hin und her
Und sein kleiner Teller
Bleibt ihm immer leer
Und die Hunde knurren um den alten Mann
Und er läßt es gehen alles, wie es will
Dreht, und seine Leier
Steht ihm nimmer still
Wunderlicher Alter soll ich mit dir gehn?
Willst zu meinen Liedern deine Leier drehn?
The lyrics of Franz Schubert's song "Der Leiermann" from the cycle Winterreise depict a forlorn and haunting scene. The singer describes a hurdy-gurdy player, standing alone behind the village. With frozen and stiff fingers, he turns the crank of his instrument, striving to produce whatever sound he can. The Leiermann appears to be in a state of constant motion, swaying back and forth on the ice with bare feet. However, his efforts seem futile, as his little plate remains empty. Despite his persistent playing, no one wants to listen to him, and nobody bothers to look at him. Adding to the desolation, even the dogs growl and bark at the old man.
The Leiermann accepts his fate and allows everything to happen as it will. He continues to turn the crank of his hurdy-gurdy, and the instrument never ceases playing. The singer, filled with a sense of pity or curiosity, asks the Leiermann if he should accompany him on his journey. He wonders if the old man would like to play his instrument alongside the singer's songs.
Line by Line Meaning
Drüben hinterm Dorfe steht ein Leiermann
Over there behind the village stands a hurdy-gurdy man
Und mit starren Fingern
And with stiff fingers
Dreht er, was er kann
He turns it, as best he can
Barfuß auf dem Eise wankt er hin und her
Barefoot on the ice he staggers back and forth
Und sein kleiner Teller
And his little plate
Bleibt ihm immer leer
Always remains empty for him
Keiner mag ihn hören keiner sieht ihn an
No one wants to listen to him, no one sees him
Und die Hunde knurren um den alten Mann
And the dogs growl around the old man
Und er läßt es gehen alles, wie es will
And he lets everything go as it wants
Dreht, und seine Leier
He turns, and his hurdy-gurdy
Steht ihm nimmer still
Never stands still for him
Wunderlicher Alter soll ich mit dir gehn?
Strange old man, should I go with you?
Willst zu meinen Liedern deine Leier drehn?
Do you want to accompany my songs with your hurdy-gurdy?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hermannharlos9944
THE ORGAN GRINDER
Yonder, past the village, stands the organ man,
And, with stiff old fingers, cranks just as he can.
Barefoot on the ice, he stumbles here and there,
And his begging bowl remains forever bare.
No one listens to him, no one looks at him,
Only dogs are barking round the strange old man,
And he lets it go, whichever way it will,
Grinds, his organ never standing still.
Strange mysterious old man, shall I come along?
Will you grind your organ to my song?
@barbaratrehy4742
Over the village there is a lyre man
and with rigid fingers he does what he can.
Barefoot on the ice, he staggers back and forth
and his little plate always stays empty.
Nobody likes to hear him, no one looks at him,
and the dogs are growling around the old man.
And he lets it go all the way it wants
He turns and his lyre never stops.
Whimsical age, should I go with you?
Do you want to turn your lyre to my songs?
@nickless4954
+Nancy517
The Organ-Grinder
Way behind the hamlet
stands an organ man
and with freezing fingers
grinds the best he can.
Barefoot on the snowbank
swaying to and fro -
and his little plate has
ne'er a coin to show.
No-one comes to listen,
no-one comes to greet,
and the dogs are growling
at the old man's feet.
And he lets it happen,
lets it as it will -
cranking - and his organ
never staying still.
Strangest of the Ancients,
must I walk with you?
Will you grind my Lieders
on your organ, too?
@ilkinrustamzadeh
I am human rights activist from Azerbaijan and I was 6 years in prison. When I was in prison I watched film "in Bruges". In this film I heard this song. And after prison, when I released firstly I searched "in Bruges" songs and soundtracks. And I found this fantastic voice.
For fully feeling the film's and song's atmosphere I visited Bruges and I did walking tour in Bruges with listening this song. It was amazaing experience.
I think in this song and voice you can find all of tragedies of Europe. Wars, holocausts, destroying of empires, occupations and others...
@Maatkara1000
My teacher of Arabic is Palestinian, and he was a reporter there. He started reporting against the crimes commited by the Government and by Israel, and he was kidnapped, put in prison and tortured. He still bears the scars of the torture.
It is absolutely horrible how people fighting for human rights suffer so much in so many countries. I wish there was a way to return those 6 years back to you or to rightfully compensate you for your suffering
@user-jz9uq9pd8t
Героям слава!
@fktrcfylhbwey9581
And immigrants
@ilkinrustamzadeh
@@fktrcfylhbwey9581 I am not immigrant. I live in Baku.
@fktrcfylhbwey9581
@@ilkinrustamzadeh no, I'm about tragedy's of Europe
@PaulVanBladel
Maximum expression.
Maximum voice control and technique.
Maximum intelligence.
Simply unparalleled.
@deandro985
Did you see his arms though?
@DerEchteBold
@@deandro985
So?
@DerEchteBold
@@deandro985
Fortunately not (you creep!) but what is your point, other than mocking a handicapped artist?