An die Musik
Du holde Kunst, in wieviel grauen Stunden,
Wo mich des Lebens wilder Kreis umstrickt,
Hast du mein Herz zu warmer Lieb' entzunden,
Hast mich in eine beßre Welt entrückt!
Wo mich des Lebens wilder Kreis umstrickt,
Hast du mein Herz zu warmer Lieb' entzunden,
Hast mich in eine beßre Welt entrückt!
You gracious art, in how many grey hours,
when life's wild circle ensnared me,
have you kindled my heart to warm love
and carried me away into a better world!
when life's wild circle ensnared me,
have you kindled my heart to warm love
and carried me away into a better world!
Oft hat ein Seufzer, deiner Harf' entflossen,
Ein süßer, heiliger Akkord von dir
Den Himmel beßrer Zeiten mir erschlossen,
Du holde Kunst, ich danke dir dafür!
Ein süßer, heiliger Akkord von dir
Den Himmel beßrer Zeiten mir erschlossen,
Du holde Kunst, ich danke dir dafür!
Often a sigh flowing from your harp,
a sweet and holy chord of yours,
has opened to me the heaven of better times.
You gracious art, I thank you for it!
a sweet and holy chord of yours,
has opened to me the heaven of better times.
You gracious art, I thank you for it!
About the song. Schubert set this poem by his close friend Franz von Schober when he was twenty. It became one of his best-loved songs: a quiet hymn of thanks to music itself, carried by a calm, singing bass line in the piano.
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Translation © Art Song Translations. You may print it free of charge in concert and recital programs with the credit "Translation: Art Song Translations". The German text is in the public domain; repetitions made by the composer are not printed.
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