Kosegarten Song Cycle

[micrologus]

The poem was intended as a companion piece to Klamer Schmidt's Trennungslied, which Mozart set in 1787(K519). This famous poem, very characteristic of the 'age of sentiment', begins in the same way: 'God's angels weep when lovers part. How shall I be able to live without you, maiden? A stranger to every joy, henceforth I shall live in sorrow. And you? And you? Louisa will forget me, perhaps for ever, perhaps for ever.' Kosegarten's poem was an attempt to present the other side of the coin. It consists of nineteen verses, of which the first two and the last are translated. (It may be remembered that Schubert also set a more lighthearted treatment of the same human situation in Leitner's Fröhliches Scheiden, D896).

The autograph (Vienna, SB) is dated 19 October 1815. There is also a fair copy, now in private possession. There is a dated copy in the Witteczek-Spaun collection (Vienna, GdM). The song first appeared in the Gesamtausgabe in 1895.

Luisens Antwort, one of the best of the Kosegarten settings, has a strong affinity with Mozart's setting for Schmidt's poem, even to the shape of the melodic line. But in Mozart's song a continual flow of new ideas gives an individual colour to the treatment of the last three verses. It is a salutary exercise, especially for believers in the theory that Schubert 'invented' the lied, to compare the two songs in detail.

Despite Wilhelm's infidelity, Luisa decides to love him forever.


Luisens Antwort

Wohl weinen Gottes Engel,
Wenn Liebende sich trennen,
Geliebter, ohne dich!
Gestorben allen Freuden,
Leb' ich fortan den Leiden,
Und nimmer, Wilhelm, nimmer
Vergißt Luisa dich.

Wie könnt' ich dein vergessen!
Wohin ichn Freund, mich wende,
Wohin den Blick nur sende,
Umstrahlt dein Bildniss mich.
Mit trunkenem Entzücken
Seh'ich es auf mich blicken.
Nein, nimmer, Wilhelm, nimmer
Vergisst Luisa dich.

Wie könnt' ich dein vergessen!
Vergessen je der Fragen
Die du in schönern Tagen
Ohn'Ende fragtest: "Sprich,
Luisa, bist du meine?"
Ja, Trauter, ja die Deine
Bin ich auf ewig, Nimmer
Vergißt Luisa dich.

Ich kann dich nicht vergessen!
Nicht fremde Huldigingen
Nicht Sclavenanbetungen,
O Freund, verdrängen dich
Luisa lievt nur Einen,
Nur Einen kann sie meinen,
Nur Einen nie vergessen,
Vergessen nimmer dich.

Selbst wenn du falsch und treulos
An fremde Brust dich schmiegtest,
In fremden Arm dich wiegtest,
Vergessend Schwur und Pflicht,
In fremden Flammen brenntest,
Luisen gar vergässest -
Ich, ach! Vergäss' dich nicht!

Verachtet und vergessen,
Verloren und verlassen,
Könnt' ich dich doch nicht hassen;
Still grämen würd' ich mich,
Bis Tod sich mein erbarmte.
Das Grab mich kühl umarmte...
Doch auch im Grab', im Himmel,
O Wilhelm, liebt' ich dich!

In mildern Engelglanze
Würd' ich dein Bett' umschimmern
Und zärtlich dich um wimmern;
"Ich bin Luisa, ich;
Luisa kann nicht hassen,
Luisa dich nicht lassen,
Luisa kommt zu segnen,
Und liebt auch droben dich."


[ame]http://www.classicalmusicforum.net/music/18-Luisens-Antwort.mp3[/ame]

[micrologus]

The poem dates from 1787. Kosegarten wrote four poems 'to Rosa'. Schubert set the second and third. The autograph, headed 'An Rosa I' and dated 19 October 1815, is now in LC, Washington DC. A fair copy containing both the An Rosa songs is in the library of the Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. There is a dated copy in the Witteczek-Spaun collection (Vienna, GdM). The first publication was in the Gesamtausgabe in 1895.

Schubert wrote seven songs to Kosegarten texts on 19 October 1815. The problem with these songs, however, is not one of quantity versus quality, for Schubert was quite capable of writing such a masterpiece in the course of such a busy day's work: it is a question of scale; however enjoyable in its unpretentious way, the song is too slight for public performance.

Wilhelm sings his love for another lover, Rosa.


An Rosa I

Warum bist du nicht hier, meine Geliebteste,
Daß mich gürte dein Arm,
Daß mich dein Händedruck labe,
Daß du mich pressest
An dein schlagendes Schwesterherz.

Warum bist du nicht hier, meine Vertrauteste,
Daß dich gürte mein Arm,
Daß ich dir süßen Gruß
Lispl' und feurig dich drücke
An mein schlagendes Bruderherz.

Matte labet der Quell, Müde der Abendstern,
Irre Wandrer der Mond, Kranke das Morgenrot;
Mich erlabet, Geliebte,
Dein Umfangen am kräftigsten.



[ame]http://www.classicalmusicforum.net/music/19-An-Rosa-I.mp3[/ame]



To Rosa

Why aren't you here, my most beloved,
so that you can encircle me in your arms,
soothe me by holding my hand,
and press me
to your throbbing, sisterly heart?

Why aren't you here, my dearest,
so that I can encircle you in my arms,
greet you sweetly,
whisper and press you fervently
to my throbbing, brotherly heart?

The spring refreshes the languid, the evening star the weary,
The moon the lost traveler, the dawn the ill;
but to me, my beloved,
your embrace is the strongest comfort of all.

[micrologus]

This is the third of Kosegarten's 'An Rosa' poems. Schubert's title is An Rosa II. There are two versions, both printed in the Gesamtausgabe. The autograph of the first is dated 19 October 1815. The second is written on the back of An Rosa I. Both manuscripts (originally a part of a set of Kosegarten songs) are nowin LC, Washington, DC. There is a copy in the Witteczek-Spaun collection(Vienna, GdM) and another in that of Johann Leopold Ebner (Lund, UB). First publication was in the Gesamtausgabe in 1895.

The second version has a much stronger climax in the subdominant D flat before the cadence. Both this and the previous song are in A flat major, Schubert's key of devotion, but the mood of sweetness and tenderness is more impressive in this one.

Wilhelm stays lonely, he thinks about Rosa and laments his fate.


An Rosa II

Rosa, denkst du an mich? Innig gedenk' ich dein!
Durch den grünlichen Wald schimmert das Abendrot,
Und die Wipfel der Tannen
Regt das Säuseln des Ewigen.

Rosa, wärest du hier, säh' ich ins Abendrot
Deine Wangen getaucht, säh' ich vom Abendhauch
Deine Locken geringelt.
Edle Seele, mir wäre wohl!



[ame]http://www.classicalmusicforum.net/music/20-An-Rosa-II.mp3[/ame]



To Rosa II

Rosa, do you think of me? I think of you dearly!
Through the green wood dusk shimmers,
and the tops of the firs
rustle with the movement of eternity.

Rosa, if you were here, I would watch the evening light
flood your cheeks; I would watch the evening breeze
tousle your hair.
Precious soul, it would be bliss to me!

[micrologus]

Thank you all for your interrest and support!

[haydnguy]