Wandrers Sturmlied

The Wanderer's Storm Song (German: Wandrers Sturmlied), Opus 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.

Wandrers Sturmlied
Choral work by Richard Strauss
Wanderer in the storm, painting by Julius von Leypold, 1835
English	Wanderer's storm song.
Key	D Minor, D Major.
Catalogue	Opus 14, TrV 131.
Text	Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Language	German
Composed	1884 (1884)
Dedication	Dr Franz Wüllner.
Scoring	Mixed choir SSATBB and orchestra.

Composition history

The piece was written when Strauss had come under the influence of the music of Johannes Brahms. Completed, May 22, 1884.[1] The work was premiered with Strauss conducting at Cologne on March 8, 1887, with the city orchestra and choir. The choir is divided into six parts: two soprano, alto, tenor and two bass. The work is dedicated to Franz Wullner who had conducted the German premier 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

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Portrait by Georg Oswald May, 1779

Strauss sets the first 38 lines of Goethe's 116 line poem.

Wandrers Sturmlied

The Wanderer's Storm Song[2]

Wen du nicht verlässest, Genius, Nicht der Regen, nicht der Sturm Haucht ihm Schauer übers Herz. Wen du nicht verlässest, Genius, Wird dem Regengewölk, Wird dem Schloßensturm Entgegensingen, Wie die Lerche, Du da droben. Den du nicht verlässest, Genius, Wirst ihn heben übern Schlammpfad Mit den Feuerflügeln. Wandeln wird er Wie mit Blumenfüßen Über 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 decken In des Haines Mitternacht. Wen du nicht verlässest, Genius, Wirst im Schneegestöber Wärmumhüllen; 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 wandle Göttergleich. Ihr seid rein, wie das Herz der Wasser, Ihr seid rein, wie das Mark der Erde, Ihr umschwebt mich, und ich schwebe Über Wasser, über Erde, Göttergleich.

He whom thou ne'er leavest, Genius, Feels no dread within his heart At the tempest or the rain. He whom thou ne'er leavest, Genius, Will to the rain-clouds, Will to the hailstorm, Sing in reply As the lark sings, Oh thou on high! Him whom thou ne'er leavest, Genius, Thou wilt raise above the mud-track With 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 pinion When he sleepeth on the rock,-- Thou wilt shelter with thy guardian wing In the forest's midnight hour. Him whom thou ne'er leavest, Genius, Thou wilt wrap up warmly In 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 earth Over 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 hover Over water, o'er the earth Like the gods.

References

Notes

1. Trenner, page 37.
2. Translation Read Books Online.

Sources

• Norman Del Mar, Richard Strauss. A Critical Commentary on his Life and Works, Volume 3, London: Faber and Faber (2009)[1968] (second edition), ISBN 978-0-571-25098-1.
• Schuh, Willi. Richard Strauss: A Chronicle of the Early Years 1864-1898, (translated by Mary Wittal), Cambridge University Press, 1982. ISBN 9780521241045.
• Trenner, Franz. Richard Strauss Chronik, Verlag Dr Richard Strauss Gmbh, Wien, 2003. ISBN 3-901974-01-6