On Christmas days, we look at the children, their excitement, their laughter, their innocence, their eyes that look at everything... And, at some point, we remember with longing that time that the children were us. Don't we? This is the subject of the poem of this week, written by the Austrian poet Christiane Rosalia Frideriks, who used to sign her work as Ada Christen.
Joseph Marx put it on music in 1908. Der Christbaum has a delicate impressionist piano atmosphere, while the voice sounds inevitably melancholic; in fact, it's as the score indicates, langsam und sehnsüchtig [slow and with longing]. This is one of many lesser-known Lieder that deserve a chance, and we will listen to an interpretation that does justice to it, that of Christiane Karg and Gerold Huber.
This is my final post for 2024 and the Christmas season. May you have a wonderful new year, and that the Three Wise Men, in addition to CD, music books and tickets for concerts, bring you lots of renewed hope: to keep learning, to travel, to see a plant grow, to start big and small projects… To whatever you want to do!
Aus den bunten Kerzlein dringen?
Die vegessenen Gebete
Aus den Tannenzweiglein singen?
Hörst' Du auch das schüchternfrohe,
Helle Kinderlachen klingen?
Schaust' auch Du den stillen Engel
Mit den reinen, weißen Schwingen?...
Schaust' auch Du Dich selber wieder
Fern und fremd nur wie im Traume?
Grüßt auch Dich mit Märchenaugen
Deine Kindheit aus dem Baume?...
Coming from the colourful little candles?
The forgotten prayers
singing from the little branches of the fir tree?
Do you also hear the timid, happy,
Bright sound of children’s laughter?
Do you also see the quiet angel
With his pure white wings?
Do you also see yourself again
From afar, a stranger, as in a dream?
Does also your childhood greet you
With fairy tale eyes from the tree?
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