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Spannen junge Spinnerinnen, Spannen Flachs zu seinen Linnen, Spannen spät bei Lampenschein: Doch vor allen anderen Mädchen Drehte Röschen glatt ihr Fädchen, Dreht ihr Fädchen rund und fein. Und es dringt zum Ohr des Zaren, Wie ein Kind so jung an Jahren Fleißig sich zum Rädchen hält; Schickt ihr Flachs zu einem Wocken, Blond und weich wie Röschens Locken: Röschen, spinne mir ein Zelt! Und von dem, was noch -- so schreibet Ihr der Zar -- dir übrig bleibt, Die mit Spinnen du vertraut: Davon magst du Kleider spinnen, Hochzeitskleider, und darinnen Mir im Arme ruhn als Braut. Klug ist Röschen, voller Pfiffe; Federchen vom Weberschiffe Schicket sie dem Zar in's Haus, Zar! was du, vermag nicht jeder; Zar! hier hast du eine Feder! Mach' mir einen Webstuhl draus! Und von dem, was noch -- so schreibet Röschen ihm -- dir übrig bleibt, Werd' ein Lusthaus aufgebaut! In dem Lusthaus will ich wohnen, Drinnen Kunst und Fleiß belohnen, Dir im Arme ruhn als Braut.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Wilhelm Gerhard's Gesänge der Serben, Zweite Auflage, ed. Karl Braun-Wiesbaden, Leipzig: Verlag von Joh. Ambr. Barth., 1877, pages 231-232
Authorship:
- by Wilhelm Christoph Leonhard Gerhard (1780 - 1858), "Die pfiffige Spinnerin", appears in Gesänge der Serben, first published 1877 [author's text checked 2 times against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Serbian (Српски) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) [text unavailable]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Richard Wagner, Dr. , "Die Spinnerin", op. 15 (Drei Lieder für Sopran mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 1, published 1887 [ soprano and piano ], Berlin, Paez [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2013-03-11
Line count: 30
Word count: 161
Young maidens were a-spinning, Spinning flax into linen, Spinning late by lamplight: But better than all other maidens Rosie spun her thread smoothly, Spun her thread round and fine. And it came to the ears of the czar, How a child so young in years Worked diligently at her spinning wheel; He sent her flax for her distaff, As blonde and soft as Rosie’s curls: Rosie, spin me a tent! And from that -- thus wrote The czar to her -- which you have left over, You who are so familiar with spinning: From that you may spin garments, Wedding garments, and, wearing them, Rest in my arms as my bride. Clever is Rosie, full of shrewdness; A little wooden fly-shuttle She sends to the abode of the czar, Czar! not everyone can do what you can; Czar! here you have a shuttle! Make me a loom therewith! And from what -- thus wrote Rosie to him -- you have left over, Let a summerhouse be built! In that summerhouse I shall dwell, Within it shall reward artistry and diligence, Shall rest in your arms as a bride.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Die Spinnerin" = "The spinning maiden"
"Die pfiffige Spinnerin" = "The canny spinning maiden"
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2018 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Wilhelm Christoph Leonhard Gerhard (1780 - 1858), "Die pfiffige Spinnerin", appears in Gesänge der Serben, first published 1877
Based on:
- a text in Serbian (Српски) from Volkslieder (Folksongs) [text unavailable]
This text was added to the website: 2018-01-24
Line count: 30
Word count: 185