By Edie Rittle
Every quarter, vocal majors receive two songs that they will eventually perform to their peers. This quarter, the junior vocalists received works by the German composer Robert Schumann (a Mr. Macbeth favorite). These works include “In der Fremde,” “Auf einer Burg,” “Mondnacht,” “Widmung,” and “Du Ring an meinem Finger.” Although the junior vocalists have been working on German art songs and techniques all year, it is still difficult to comprehend the true meaning of the songs. Therefore, Mr. Macbeth gave each junior vocalist a transliteration assignment where we had to literally translate the songs word-for-word. Translating german lyrics word-for-word can leave a lot of grammatical errors. Therefore, we had to take the transliterations and rewrite them in our own way. This assignment is important because of the individuality that is expressed within each personal poem. We thought we would share some of the transliterations we came up with!
“Mondnacht” (Moonlit Night)
Original Poetry by Joseph von Eichendorff
Translation by Anora Otto
It was from Heaven,
Came the Earth’s kiss,
So by the shimmering flowers
She dreamed of him.
The wind blew through the fields,
the cornstalks gently swayed,
and rustled the quiet forest,
under the starry night.
And my soul took flight
Fanned out her wings,
Glided across the still land,
She flew home.
“Widmung” (Dedication)
Original Poetry by Friedrich Ruckert
Translation by Kaitlyn Hughes
You are my soul, you are my heart. You are my bliss and take my pain. You are my world, my heaven, and my grave. I will forever feel no sorrow! You are quiet, you are my peace. You are from heaven I have decided. The love you have for me gives me value. Your view has transfigured me. Your love lifts me up. You make my spirit better!
“Du Ring an meinem Finger” (Ring on my Finger)
Original Poetry by Aldebert von Chamisso
Translation by Fiona Healy
You ring on my finger,
my golden little ring
I press you to my lips in praise
Religious in my heart you sing
I dreamed of him in childhood, a peaceful dream
I found myself alone, lost
in desolate infinite space.
You ring on my finger
From you I have learned
You had changed my view
of life’s infinite value
I want him, to give him my life
Belong to him, loyally and find
Him transfigured in my light
You ring on my finger,
my golden little ring
I press you to my lips in praise
Religious in my heart you sing.
“Widmung” (Dedication)
Original Poetry by Friedrich Ruckert
Translation by Bella Tallada
You my soul, you my heart
you my bliss, oh you my pain
you my world in which I live
my heaven is you, in it I float
oh you my dig
down into that I forever gave my sorrow
you are the peace, you are peace
you are from heaven for me decided
that you my love
that make me worth it
your look has me
made clear before me
you lift me lovingly
above me
my good spirit
my better self
“Widmung” (Dedication)
Original Poetry by Friedrich Ruckert
Translation by Gabriela Gomez
You my soul, you my heart
You my bliss, you my pain
You my world in which I live
My heaven, you there, I’m floating
Oh you my grave into which I gave my sorrows forever.
You are the quiet, you are the peace, you are from heaven, your love makes me worthy, your look had transformed me. You lift me up
My good soul. You my heart. You my bliss,
Oh you my pain, you my world in which I live
My heavens, you there, I float
My good soul my better self!
Goethe House Römerberg Portrait of J W von Goethe
Photos from Mr. Macbeth’s trip to Germany
The Performer 