"Rondel" is a song written by the English composer
Edward Elgar
Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, (; 2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestr ...
in 1894 as his
Op. 16, No. 3. The words are by
Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 – March 24, 1882) was an American poet and educator. His original works include the poems "Paul Revere's Ride", ''The Song of Hiawatha'', and ''Evangeline''. He was the first American to complet ...
, a translation of a
Rondel by
Froissart
Jean Froissart ( Old and Middle French: ''Jehan''; sometimes known as John Froissart in English; – ) was a French-speaking medieval author and court historian from the Low Countries who wrote several works, including ''Chronicles'' and ''Meli ...
. The manuscript is dated 4 January 1894.
The song was first performed by Charles Phillips in
St James's Hall
St. James's Hall was a concert hall in London that opened on 25 March 1858, designed by architect and artist Owen Jones (architect), Owen Jones, who had decorated the interior of the Crystal Palace. It was situated between the Quadrant in Regen ...
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![German words by Ed. Sachs]
Recordings
"''The Songs of Edward Elgar'' SOMM CD 220" Neil Mackie (tenor), Malcolm Martineau (piano), at Southlands College, London, April 1999
References
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
Dame Felicity Ann Emwhyla Lott, (born 8 May 1947) is an English soprano.
Education
Lott was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. From her earliest years she was musical, having started studying piano at age 5. She also played violin and bega ...
,
Joseph Middleton
Joseph Middleton (born 10 January 1981) is a British classical pianist and lied accompanist.
Biography
Middleton was born in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. At school he played piano, violin, flute and organ. He read music at the University of B ...
{{Authority control
Songs by Edward Elgar
1894 songs
Musical settings of poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow