Widmung has a very special meaning for me. I had heard this song many years ago and it remained with me. When my wife and I were planning our wedding, I found a recording of Widmung and played it for her. The music is beautiful, and the Ave Maria coda simply enhances the spirituality of the music. After reading Rückert's words, she agreed it was a perfect addition to our wedding ceremony. It remains a favorite.
After a long tumultuous courtship, Robert Schumann composed the music for Widmung (opus 25) in 1840 as a wedding gift to Clara - his new wife. Widmung (which means 'dedication) is the first of the 26 song Myrthen series of leider ("Myrtles," which was traditional bridal finery). The music is written around a poem penned by Friedrich Rückert.
| Widmung | Dedication |
|
Du meine Seele, du mein Herz, du meine Wonn', o du mein Schmerz, du meine Welt, in der ich lebe, mein Himmel du, darein ich schwebe o du mein Grab, in das hinab, ich ewig meinen Kummer gab!
Du bist die Ruh', du bist der Frieden, du bist vom Himmel mir be shwieden. daß du mich liebst, macht mich mir wert, dein Blick hat mich vor mir verklärt, du hebst mich liebend über mich, mein guter Geist, mein bess'ress Ich!
Du meine Seele, du mein Herz, du meine Wonn’, o, du mein Schmerz, du meine Welt, in der ich lebe, mein Himmel du, darien ich schwebe, mein guter Geist, mein bessres Ich! |
You are my soul, you are my heart, you are my joy, and oh, you are my pain, you are my world, in which I live, you are the heaven in which I hover, oh, you are the grave I fall down into, I gave my grief eternally!
You are the rest, you are the peace, you are given to me from heaven. That you love me, makes me worthy to myself, your glance has transfigured myself to me, you lift me lovingly above myself, my good spirit, my better self!
You are my soul, you are my heart, you are my joy, and oh, you are my pain, you are my world, in which I live, you are the heaven in which I hover, my good spirit, my better self! |
You my soul, you my heart!
You my joy, O you my sorrow!
You the world in which I live!
You the heaven to which I aspire!
O you the grave where forever
I laid my grief.
You are rest, you are peace;
You were bestowed on me by heaven
Because you love me, I find my own worth,
I see myself transformed by your glance.
Lovingly you raise me up.
You, my good spirit, my better self.