Die Lotosblume

"Die Lotosblume", or "The Lotus-Flower", is a poem written by Heinrich Heine which was set to music by Robert Schumann in 1840.[1] This Lied is part of Schumann's Myrthen collection (op. 25 no. 7)) and Six Song for Männerchor (op. 33 no. 3). The piece speaks of the blooming of a lotus flower and how it comes to life at night. Due to circumstances at the time, the lyrics were intended to have a double meaning.

Text

Deutsch English

Die Lotosblume ängstigt
Sich vor der Sonne Pracht,
Und mit gesenktem Haupte
Erwartet sie träumend die Nacht.
 
Der Mond, der ist ihr Buhle,
Er weckt sie mit seinem Licht,
Und ihm entschleiert sie freundlich
Ihr frommes Blumengesicht.
 
Sie blüht und glüht und leuchtet,
Und starret stumm in die Höh;
Sie duftet und weinet und zittert
Vor Liebe und Liebesweh.

The Lotus flower fears
before the sun's splendour,
and with drooping head
she dreamily awaits the night.

The moon, he is her lover.
He wakes her with his light
and to him she happily unveils
her devoted flower-face.

She blooms and glows and shines
and stares mute in the heavens.
She exhales and weeps and trembles
with love and love's pain.

References

  1. ↑ Programs Stanford University. Dept. of Music - 2003 Die Lotosblume is a poem by Heinrich Heine, a poet whose works Schumann used heavily in his song cycles. Schumann was interested in the contrast between innocence and sensuality in Heine's poems and this contrast is clearly seen here
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