Schubert’s Winterreise, In Facebook Messenger Icons
The Facebook Messenger app has been in the news recently because of privacy and stuff, but I don’t care about that because look: a pink canary thing!
These little emoticons are available within the messenger app, so instead of thinking of pesky words to type you can express yourself with pictures. In technicolour.
I believe this feature is not only awesome but may also facilitate an understanding of 19th-century German poetry.
Yes, 19th-century German poetry. For example, Schubert’s Winterreise is a song-cycle based on poems by Wilhelm Müller and it is rather good just as poetry and music. However, it is even better when accompanied by pictures of the pink Facebook canary in a variety of humorous garbs.
Here is just such a version, using an abridged translation by Barry Mitchell.
Winterreise
No. 1. Good Night
As a stranger I arrived
As a stranger I shall leave
Soon I’ll be out of sight
Good night, my love, good night
No. 2. The Weathervane
For Nature plays with our hearts
As the wind plays with the vane
What do they care if my heart is dying?
Their child will be a wealthy bride
No. 3. Frozen Tears
From this poor bosom tears flow
Flow with burning heat
Flow enough to melt
The winter frost and snow
No. 4. Feeling Numb
I look for traces of her footsteps
I look for them in vain
When my sorrows fall silent
Who will speak to me of her?
No. 5. The Linden Tree
Cruel winds were blowing
Coldly cutting my face
My hat was blown behind me
I quickly sped on my way
I’m now many miles distant
From that dear old linden tree
But I still hear it whisper
“Come – find peace with me”
No. 6. The Watercourse
My tears have made
Deep marks in the snow
Take my tears with you
As you flow to the stream
You’ll feel my hot tears
As you pass where my loved-one lives
No. 7. On the River
A hard and icy case
Is now your winter prison
You lie cold and dreary
Pressed fast upon the earth
No. 8. Looking Back
It feels like I’m walking on fire
Though underfoot is ice and snow
I’ve hardly time to draw breath
So keen am I to leave that town
No. 9. Will O’ the Wisp
Will O’ the Wisp has led me
Deep into a rocky maze
I look from right to left
I seek a path but there is none
No. 10. Rest
.
At last I rest and only now
I feel weary
.
No. 11. Spring Dreams
My eyes are closing again
Once more my heart begins to throb
Will the leaves ever turn green?
Will I ever embrace my sweetheart?
No. 12. Solitude
Why is the air so tranquil!
Why is the world so fair!
Even in the raging storm
I never felt such despair
No. 13. The Post
I’ll ask the postman, Heart
If he has been to that town
And if he has seen
The fair one you loved
No. 14. The Grey Head
They say one night of torment
Can make black hair turn white
The frost leaves my hair untouched
I have wandered but must wander more
No. 15. The Raven
Raven, bird of ill-omen
Will you ever leave me?
Do you stalk me
In the hope I will be yours?
No. 16. The Last Hope
I stare at one leaf
I stake my hopes on it
If the leaf falls
My hopes will fall with it
My heart will sink too
My last hope will be gone
No. 17. In the Village
.
My dreams have ended in tears
Why should I linger here?
.
No. 18. The Stormy Morning
A storm has ripped
The grey robe of the sky
The clouds fly apart
In wild disorder
No. 19. Illusion
I see a flickering guiding light
To left and right, now here, now there
I’ll follow this light, though I know
It will mislead and tease me
No. 20. The Guide-Post
Why should I leave the beaten path
Where the other wanderers tread?
It is only foolishness
That makes me seek the wild
It points me to a path
One no wanderer can retrace
No. 21. The Wayside Inn
Among all your rooms
Do you have one for me?
I’m tired and ready to rest
Unwelcoming inn, do you deny me shelter?
No. 22. Courage
Snow falls on my cheek
I carelessly brush it away
If my heart speaks of its troubles
I’ll drown it out with a happy song
No. 23. The Mock Suns
I used to have three suns
But the best two have gone
If the third goes out
I will welcome the darkness
No. 24. The Organ-Grinder
Up behind the village
The organ-grinder has his pitch
No one listens to him
Or looks at him, or cares
But he wears a smile
He shows no fear or disappointment
But turns the handle round and round
Shall I join you on your journey?
Will you play the music to my songs?
Want more Winterreise humour? Of course you do. Click here
Screaming with laughter/weeping with joy – had not succumbed to Messenger on iPad but can hardly wait…..
Am also now proud owner of Kindle edition of Barry Mitchell’s masterpiece
You have a lot to answer for Throwcase…! M
Glad to help!
Beautiful….
Definitely worth revisiting at regular intervals: this time I realise just how perfect ‘Letzte Hoffnung . Magical ….. is not the word.
That’s my favourite too!