Schubert - Ellens Gesang Nr 1
First in a series of videos of the Schubert settings of songs from Sir Walter Scott's "Lady of the Lake". This is the first of the three songs of Ellen, the central character of Scott's poem. A friend and I are currently reading the Scott work which gave me the idea for this series.
A word about the German text by Adam Storck. Those of you who know German will notice that it does not exactly follow the Scott original. I could have done a literal translation of the German version, but decided instead to use the original Scott poem, which means that the meaning of the English and German text does not match line for line. However, the spirit of the poem is there. Schubert also repeats some verses in his musical setting.
Photos, drawings and paintings used are of the Highlands of Scotland, in particular the Trossachs region and Loch Katrine where "Lady of the Lake" is set.
Soldier, rest! thy warfare o'er,
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking;
Dream of battled fields no more,
Days of danger, nights of waking.
In our isle's enchanted hall,
Hands unseen thy couch are strewing,
Fairy strains of music fall,
Every sense in slumber dewing.
Soldier, rest! thy warfare o'er,
Dream of fighting fields no more:
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking,
Morn of toil, nor night of waking.
No rude sound shall reach thine ear,
Armour's clang, or war-steed champing,
Trump nor pibroch summon here
Mustering clan, or squadron tramping;
Yet the lark's shrill fife may come
At the day-break from the fallow,
And the bittern sound his drum,
Booming from the sedgy shallow.
Ruder sounds shall none be near,
Guards nor warders challenge here,
Here's no war-steed's neigh and champing,
Shouting clans, or squadrons stamping.
Sir Walter Scott
Janet Baker (mezzo-soprano)
Gerald Moore (piano)