Rondel (Elgar) Explained

"Rondel" is a song written by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1894 as his Op. 16, No. 3. The words are by Longfellow, a translation of a Rondel by Froissart.^[1] The manuscript is dated 4 January 1894.

The song was first performed by Charles Phillips in St James's Hall on 7 December 1897.

The song was first published in 1896, by Ascherberg. It was re-published in 1907 as one of Elgar's Seven Lieder, with English and German words.

Lyrics

Love, love, what wilt thou with this heart of mine?Nought see I sure or fixed in thee!I do not know thee, – nor what deeds are thine:Love, love, what wilt thou with this heart of mine?Nought see I fixed or sure in thee!

Shall I be mute, or vows with prayers combine?Ye who are blessed in loving, tell it me:Love, love, what wilt thou with this heart of mine?Nought see I fixed or sure in thee!Lieb', Lieb', was willst du mit dem Herzen mein?Nicht kenn' ich dich, noch dein Begehr!Nichts scheint mir fest in dir, noch klar zu sein:Lieb', was willst du mit dem Herzen mein?Nicht kenn' ich dich, noch dein Begehr!

Bleibe ich stumm, soll liebevoll ich sein?Ihr, die ihr liebt, lasst mich nicht zweifeln mehr:Lieb', Lieb', was willst du mit dem Herzen mein?Nicht kenn' ich standhaft dich, noch dein Begehr!^[2]

Recordings

• "The Songs of Edward Elgar SOMM CD 220", Neil Mackie (tenor), Malcolm Martineau (piano), at Southlands College, London, April 1999

Further reading

• Banfield, Stephen, Sensibility and English Song: Critical Studies of the Early 20th Century (Cambridge University Press, 1985)
• Kennedy, Michael, Portrait of Elgar (Oxford University Press, 1968)
• Moore, Jerrold N. Edward Elgar: A Creative Life (Oxford University Press, 1984)

External links

• • , Felicity Lott, Joseph Middleton

Notes and References

1. https://allpoetry.com/poem/8446823-Rondel.--From-Froissart--by-Henry-Wadsworth-Longfellow "Longfellow: 'Rondel'. (from Froissart)"
2. German words by Ed. Sachs