Liederabend

Yesterday morning were Liederabend auditions. (A Liederabend is an old tradition of singers gathering in a home and singing German Lied-songs in the Abend-evening.) The voice department each year holds a Liederabend, to be performed in Lotte Lehman Concert Hall, selecting a different composer each year. Last year was Schubert and this year, Brahms. I have had the Flu all week and wasn't able to audition. But luckily I sang my Brahms selection for the faculty at my senior recital audition last week and they are having me close the Liederabend. For the piece it's perfect that I be last since it's his famous lullaby, Wiegenlied (Op. 49, No. 4.) Everyone knows the tune but perhaps not both German verses. This song is so beautiful. The poet describes this evening filled with roses and little carnations as you slip of to sleep. If God wills, you'll awake in the fair morning light. Angels will guard over you and show you in your dream a little Christ-child's tree. The second verse closes with the text, sleep now blissfully and sweetly in your dream's paradise. I just love it.

Wiegenlied:
Guten Abend, gut Nacht,
Mit Rosen bedacht,
Mit Näglein besteckt,
Schlupf unter die Deck':
Morgen früh, wenn Gott will,
Wirst du wieder geweckt.
Guten Abend, gut Nacht,
Von Englein bewacht,
Die zeigen im Traum
Dir Christkindleins Baum:
Schlaf nun selig und süß,
Schau im Traum's Paradies.

Lullaby:
Good evening, good night,
Bedecked with roses,
Covered with carnations,
Slip under the blanket
Early tomorrow, God willing,
Will you be woken again.
Good evening, good night,
Guarded by angels,
Who indicate to you by dream
The tree of the Christ child:
Sleep now blissfully and sweetly,
Behold Paradise in your dreams.