Wandrers Sturmlied Explained

Wandrers Sturmlied
Type:	Choral work
Composer:	Richard Strauss
Image Upright:	1.0
Translation:	Wanderer's Storm Song
Catalogue:	TrV 131
Opus:	14
Dedication:	Franz Wüllner
Text:	Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Language:	German
Key:	D minor, D major
Scoring:	Mixed choir SSATBB and orchestra

Wanderer's Storm Song (German: '''Wandrers Sturmlied'''), Op. 14, TrV 131, is a choral work for choir and orchestra written by Richard Strauss in 1884, based on a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe of the same title.

Composition history

The piece was written when Strauss had come under the influence of the music of Johannes Brahms. It was completed on 22 May 1884.^[1] The work was premiered in Cologne with Strauss conducting the city orchestra and choir on 8 March 1887.^[2] The choir is divided into six parts: two soprano, alto, tenor and two bass. The work is dedicated to Franz Wüllner who had conducted the German premiere of Strauss' Symphony 2 in January 1885.

Instrumentation

The orchestral arrangement calls for:

• One piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets in B, two bassoons, one contrabassoon
• Four french horns in F, two trumpets in D, three trombones
• Timpani
• Strings

Lyrics

Strauss sets the first 38 lines of Goethe's 116 line poem.Wen du nicht verlässest, Genius,Nicht der Regen, nicht der SturmHaucht ihm Schauer übers Herz.Wen du nicht verlässest, Genius,Wird dem Regengewölk,Wird dem SchloßensturmEntgegensingen,Wie die Lerche,Du da droben.

Den du nicht verlässest, Genius,Wirst ihn heben übern SchlammpfadMit den Feuerflügeln.Wandeln wird erWie mit BlumenfüßenÜber Deukalions Flutschlamm,Python tötend, leicht, groß,Pythius Apollo.

Den du nicht verlässest, Genius,Wirst die wollnen Flügel unterspreiten,Wenn er auf dem Felsen schläft,Wirst mit Hüterfittichen ihn deckenIn des Haines Mitternacht.

Wen du nicht verlässest, Genius,Wirst im SchneegestöberWärmumhüllen;Nach der Wärme ziehn sich Musen,Nach der Wärme Charitinnen.Umschwebt mich, ihr Musen, ihr Charitinnen!Das ist Wasser, das ist Erde,Und der Sohn des Wassers und der Erde,Über den ich wandleGöttergleich.

Ihr seid rein, wie das Herz der Wasser,Ihr seid rein, wie das Mark der Erde,Ihr umschwebt mich, und ich schwebeÜber Wasser, über Erde,Göttergleich.The Wanderer's Storm Song^[3] He whom thou ne'er leavest, Genius,Feels no dread within his heartAt the tempest or the rain.He whom thou ne'er leavest, Genius,Will to the rain-clouds,Will to the hailstorm,Sing in replyAs the lark sings,Oh thou on high!

Him whom thou ne'er leavest, Genius,Thou wilt raise above the mud-trackWith thy fiery pinions.He will wander,As, with flowery feet,Over Deucalion's dark flood,Python-slaying, light, glorious,Pythius Apollo.

Him whom thou ne'er leavest, Genius,Thou wilt place upon thy fleecy pinionWhen he sleepeth on the rock,--Thou wilt shelter with thy guardian wingIn the forest's midnight hour.

Him whom thou ne'er leavest, Genius,Thou wilt wrap up warmlyIn the snow-drift;Tow'rd the warmth approach the Muses,Tow'rd the warmth approach the Graces.Ye Muses, hover round me! Ye Graces also!That is water, that is earth,And the son of water and of earthOver which I wander,Like the gods.

Ye are pure, like the heart of the water,Ye are pure like the marrow of earth,Hov'ring round me, while I hoverOver water, o'er the earthLike the gods.

Further reading

• Norman Del Mar, Richard Strauss. A Critical Commentary on his Life and Works, Volume 3, London: Faber and Faber (2009)[1968] (second edition), .
• Schuh, Willi. Richard Strauss: A Chronicle of the Early Years 1864–1898, (translated by Mary Wittal), Cambridge University Press, 1982. .

Notes and References

1. Trenner, Franz. Richard Strauss Chronik, p. 37, Verlag Dr Richard Strauss,Wien, 2003.
2. Book: Lütteken, Laurenz. Laurenz Lütteken

   . Laurenz Lütteken. Strauss. 203. New York. Oxford University Press. 2019. 9780190605711.

3. http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/3717/ Translation