DAILY DOSE OF BEETHOVEN (October 9, 2020)
SONG FOUR
The transition to song four is breathtaking. The singer holds the last syllable of "Meine Tränen ohne Zahl" (my tears without number), on the dominant, Eb. While he is holding it, birds start singing in the piano part.
Diese Wolken in den Höhen, These clouds in the heavens
Dieser Vöglein muntrer Zug, These little birds in a happy trail,
Werden dich, o Huldin, sehen. Will soon see you, my free spirit
Nehmt mich mit im leichten Flug. Take me with you on your easy flight
Diese Weste werden spielen
(These West winds will be teasing)
Scherzend dir um Wang' und Brust,
(Playfully, on your cheeks and breast,)
In den seidnen Locken wühlen.
(Through your curly locks threading,)
Teilt ich mit euch diese Lust!
(I would share in their desire.)
Hin zu dir von jenen Hügeln
(Towards you from these hills)
Emsig dieses Bächlein eilt.
(That little brook will flow,)
Wird ihr Bild sich in dir spiegeln,
(Will its image be mirrored in you?)
Fließ zurück dann unverweilt!
(Then immediately flow back!)
Here is song four by itself:
https://youtu.be/UMc7nLBZ-Do?t=2
SONG FIVE
The transition into song five, is also unbroken. We also seem to be introduced to it by friendly birds, and they are indeed the subject! These six verses are only three lines long. The meter is light and breezy: four anapests for the first two lines, and three for the last. (An anapest consists of two short syllables followed by a long one ss L, as discussed before.)
We provide a short reading of the first verse to help us hear the meter.
Beethoven tales the verse in groups of two. A tune stretches over six lines. Thus, we hear it repeat only three times, not six.
Es kehret der Maien, es blühet die Au, May returns, the fields bloom)
Die Lüfte, sie wehen so milde, so lau, The wind, it blows mild, and lukekwarm,)
Geschwätzig die Bäche nun rinnen. The brooks are running and chatting)
Die Schwalbe, die kehret zum wirtlichen Dach, (The swallow returns to the roof that's her home.)
Sie baut sich so emsig ihr bräutlich Gemach, (She diligently builds her own bridal suite,)
Die Liebe soll wohnen da drinnen. (Love should be living inside there.)
Sie bringt sich geschäftig von kreuz und von quer
(She bustles, and brings from here and from there,)
Manch weicheres Stück zu dem Brautbett hierher,
(Some softer pieces for her married bed,)
Manch wärmendes Stück für die Kleinen (And some warmer bits for her babies.)
Nun wohnen die Gatten beisammen so treu, (Now she lives with her spouse, in faithfulness,)
Was Winter geschieden, verband nun der Mai,
(What winter divided, May now unites,)
Was liebet, das weiß er zu einen.
(Those that love, he knows how to make one.)
Es kehret der Maien, es blühet die Au. (May returns, the fields bloom,)
Die Lüfte, sie wehen so milde, so lau.
(The wind blows so mild, barely warm)
Nur ich kann nicht ziehen von hinnen. (But I cannot tear myself from here.)
Wenn alles, was liebet, der Frühling vereint, (When all that loves is united by spring,)
Nur unserer Liebe kein Frühling erscheint, (It's only to our love, that no spring appears)
Und Tränen sind all ihr Gewinnen. (And tears are all of our winnings.)
The last line of every second verse is repeated. The last line of the final verse goes into the tonic minor, and becomes very sad. We are ready for a change.
Here is song five by itself.
https://youtu.be/-tH6ByhsWBg