
It's a rainy night and I'm listening to Matthias Goerne's CD of Schumann songs, accompanied by Eric Schneider on the piano. And towards the end, I was captivated by his singing of this beautiful Stille tranen (silent tears) with a haunting melody which I'm sure will elicit a tear or two from every listener.
I always believed that rain was the silent tears of a God, a Father whom we often take for granted. So while listening to the song, let us reflect on the text, and appreciate how beautiful it has been set to music by Robert Schumann.
Incidentally I have a plan of forming an all-male group of 16 singers, that will specialize in the performance of transcriptions of art songs, an idea which I got from my friend, Stojan who has asked me to arrange songs for his award-winning group "VAL." And while at it, already arranging this song for TTBB.
I always believed that rain was the silent tears of a God, a Father whom we often take for granted. So while listening to the song, let us reflect on the text, and appreciate how beautiful it has been set to music by Robert Schumann.
Incidentally I have a plan of forming an all-male group of 16 singers, that will specialize in the performance of transcriptions of art songs, an idea which I got from my friend, Stojan who has asked me to arrange songs for his award-winning group "VAL." And while at it, already arranging this song for TTBB.

matthias_goerne_eric_schneider_-_stille_tranen.mp3 |
Stille Tränen
text by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786-1862)
Du bist vom Schlaf erstanden
Und wandelst durch die Au.
Da liegt ob allen Landen
Der Himmel wunderblau.
You have risen from sleep
And walk through the floodplains.
As if all the earth is
The beautiful blue sky.
[So lang du ohne Sorgen
Geschlummert schmerzenlos],
Der Himmel bis zum Morgen
Viel Tränen niedergoß.
[How long have you without worry
Dormant less painful] ,
The sky until morning
A lot of tears poured down.
In stillen Nächten weinet
Oft mancher aus dem Schmerz,
Und morgens dann [ihr] meinet,
Stets fröhlich sei sein Herz.
Weep in silent nights
Often some of the pain,
Morning and then my sake [you] ,
Always cheerful was his heart.
text by Justinus (Andreas Christian) Kerner (1786-1862)
Du bist vom Schlaf erstanden
Und wandelst durch die Au.
Da liegt ob allen Landen
Der Himmel wunderblau.
You have risen from sleep
And walk through the floodplains.
As if all the earth is
The beautiful blue sky.
[So lang du ohne Sorgen
Geschlummert schmerzenlos],
Der Himmel bis zum Morgen
Viel Tränen niedergoß.
[How long have you without worry
Dormant less painful] ,
The sky until morning
A lot of tears poured down.
In stillen Nächten weinet
Oft mancher aus dem Schmerz,
Und morgens dann [ihr] meinet,
Stets fröhlich sei sein Herz.
Weep in silent nights
Often some of the pain,
Morning and then my sake [you] ,
Always cheerful was his heart.