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Im Städtchen gibt es des Jubels viel, Da halten sie Hochzeit mit Tanz und [mit]1 Spiel. [Dem]2 Fröhlichen blinket der Wein so rot, Die Braut nur gleicht dem getünchten Tod. Ja tot für den, den nicht sie vergißt, Der doch beim Fest nicht Bräutigam ist: Da steht er immitten der Gäste im Krug, Und [streichet]3 die Geige lustig genug. Er [streichet]3 die Geige, sein Haar ergraut, Es [springen]4 die Saiten gellend und laut, Er drückt sie ans Herz und achtet es nicht, Ob auch sie in tausend Stücken zerbricht. Es ist gar grausig, wenn einer so stirbt, Wenn jung sein Herz um Freude noch wirbt. Ich mag und will nicht länger es sehn! Das möchte den Kopf mir schwindelnd verdrehn. -- Wer heißt euch mit Fingern zeigen auf mich? O Gott - bewahr uns gnädiglich, Daß keinen der Wahnsinn übermannt; Bin selber ein armer Musikant.
1 : omitted in Fibich
2 : Fibich: "Den"
3 : note: in Fischer-Dieskau's Book of Lieder (1977), this is "streichelt" (for Schumann); however the 1981 edition and all scores consulted appear to have "streichet".
4 Fibich, Schumann: "schwingen"
Authorship:
- by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838), "Der Spielmann", appears in Lieder und lyrisch epische Gedichte, in Nach dem Dänischen von Andersen, no. 4 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Danish (Dansk) by Hans Christian Andersen (1805 - 1875), "Spillemanden"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Zdenko Antonín Václav Fibich (1850 - 1900), "Der Spielmann", op. 7 (Vier Balladen für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte = Čtyři balady) no. 1, H. 181 no. 1 (1872), published 1874 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Lichtenberger [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Der Spielmann", op. 40 (Fünf Lieder für Singstimme und Klavier) no. 4 (1840), published 1842 [ voice and piano ], Copenhagen, Lose  [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "El músic", copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- CZE Czech (Čeština) [singable] (Otakar Kučera) , no title
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "De speelman", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "The fiddler", copyright ©
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Le violoneux", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , "Il musicante", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-20
Line count: 20
Word count: 144
Nel paese c'è gran giubilo, c'è una festa di nozze, con balli e musica. A chi è felice splende il vino più rosso, ma la sposa è pallida come la morte. Sì, morta per colui che lei non dimentica, che in questa festa non è lo sposo: lui sta in mezzo agli ospiti che brindano e suona il violino con finta allegria. Suona il violino, la sua testa si fa grigia, al suono delle corde vibranti e sonore, lo stringe al cuore e non bada se si rompe in mille pezzi. E' triste quando uno muore così, quando ancora giovane il suo cuore va in cerca di gioia. Non voglio vederlo più! Mi fa girare la testa! E che è, mi indicate col dito? O Dio - proteggici con la tua grazia, fa' che nessuno sia preda della follia. Sono anch'io un povero musicante.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to Italian (Italiano) copyright © 2006 by Amelia Maria Imbarrato, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Amelia Maria Imbarrato. We have no current contact information for the copyright-holder.
If you wish to commission a new translation, please contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Adelbert von Chamisso (1781 - 1838), "Der Spielmann", appears in Lieder und lyrisch epische Gedichte, in Nach dem Dänischen von Andersen, no. 4
Based on:
- a text in Danish (Dansk) by Hans Christian Andersen (1805 - 1875), "Spillemanden"
This text was added to the website: 2006-03-28
Line count: 20
Word count: 144