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Sanftes Klavier! Welche Entzückungen [schaffest du]1 mir, Sanftes Klavier! Wenn sich die Schönen Tändelnd verwöhnen, Weih' ich mich dir, Liebes Klavier! Bin ich allein, Hauch ich dir meine Empfindungen ein, Himmlisch und rein. Unschuld [und]2 Spiele, Tugendgefühle Sprechen aus dir, Trautes Klavier! Melancholie, [Martert]3 die Seele der Spielerin nie, Heiter ist sie. Tanzende Docken, Töne, wie Glocken, Flössen in's Blut [Rosichten]4 Muth. Sing' ich dazu, Goldener Flügel! welch himmlische Ruh Lispelst mir du! Thränen der Freude Netzen die Saite; Silberner Klang Trägt den Gesang. Tugend, ach! dir, Unschuld, dir weih' ich mein liebes Klavier! Stimmet es mir! Engel, ihr Hüter Frommer Gemüther! Jeder Ton sey [Dem Himmel]5 treu! [Rausche, o Ton, Unter geflügelten Fingern davon! Preise den Sohn, Den mit Gesängen Der Sphären, von Klängen Der Harfen belebt, Der Seraph erhebt.]6 Sanftes Klavier! Welche Entzückungen [schaffest du]1 mir, Goldnes Klavier! Wenn mich im Leben Sorgen umschweben, Töne du mir, Trautes Klavier!
F. Schubert sets stanzas 1, 2, 4, 7
Confirmed with Chr. Daniel Friedrich Schubarts Gedichte aus dem Kerker. Mit allerhöchst-gnädigst Kaiserl. Privilegio. Carlsruhe, bey Christian Gottlieb Schmieder 1785, pages 300-301; with Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubarts sämtliche Gedichte. Von ihm selbst herausgegeben. Zweiter Band. Stuttgart, in der Buchdruckerei der Herzoglichen Hohen Carlsschule, 1786, pages 211-213; and with Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart's Gedichte. Herausgegeben von seinem Sohne Ludwig Schubart. Zweiter Theil. Frankfurt am Main 1802, bey J. C. Hermann, pages 84-86.
Note: The poem's title An mein Klavier in the 1785 edition is changed to Serafina an ihr Klavier in the later editions.
1 Schubart (1786 and 1802 editions): "schaffst du in mir"2 Schubart (1786 and 1802 editions): "im"
3 Schubart (1786 edition): "Dunkelt";(1802 edition): "Düstert"
4 Schubart (1802 edition): "Rosigen"
5 Schubart (1786 and 1802 editions): "Himmel dir"
6 omitted in Schubart's 1786 and 1802 editions
Text Authorship:
- by Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart (1739 - 1791), "An mein Klavier", written 1781 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Franz Peter Schubert (1797 - 1828), "An mein Klavier", D 342 (c1816), published 1885, stanzas 1,2,4,7 [ voice, piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Al meu piano", copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Aan mijn klavier", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Malcolm Wren) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "À mon piano", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "Al mio pianoforte", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Lewis Grenville) , "A mi piano", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 49
Word count: 151
Gentle piano, What delights you create for me, Gentle piano! While beauties Spoil themselves with dalliances, I devote myself to you, Beloved piano! If I am alone, I breathe out my emotions to you, Heavenly and pure. Innocence in playing, Feelings of virtue Speak out of you, Devoted piano! Melancholy Never darkens the soul of the player; She is cheerful! Dancing jacks, Bell-like notes, Flow into the blood, Causing sanguine feelings. If I sing along, Golden instrument, what heavenly peace You whisper to me! Tears of joy Moisten the strings! A silver sound Carries the song. Virtue, oh you! Innocence, to you I dedicate my beloved piano; Make it sound for me, Angels, you guardians, With a pious disposition; May each note be True to you, heaven. Gentle piano, What delights you create for me, Golden piano! When in my life Cares hover around me, Resound for me, Devoted piano!
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Serafina an ihr Klavier" = "Serafina to her piano"
"An mein Klavier" = "To my piano"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 by Malcolm Wren, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart (1739 - 1791), "An mein Klavier", written 1781
This text was added to the website: 2017-07-15
Line count: 42
Word count: 150