Express your love with this printable digital design inspired by Schumann/Rückert's "Widmung"!

"Widmung" (Dedication) is one of Schumann's most celebrated Lieder (German art songs). Composed as a wedding gift to his beloved Clara (herself a composer of note), the text (by Friedrich Rückert) is a declaration of love to the writer's object of affection.

With this digital download, "Widmung" can become the perfect gift for your husband/wife/fiancé(e)/boyfriend/girlfriend/partner/loved one with an interest in classical music and/or poetry!

Read on to find out more about the poem, the Lied (song), and the product!

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The Poem

Friedrich Rückert was best known during his lifetime for his work as a polyglot professor and translator, particularly of works in Eastern languages. His works have had a lasting influence on German literature and culture, and he is considered one of the most important Romantic poets. Many composers have set some of his (over 6000!) poems to music, such as Mahler, Schubert, and Brahms.

English translation of "Widmung" from the German text:

You my soul, you my heart,

You my rapture, O you my pain,

You my world in which I live,

My heaven you, to which I aspire,

O you my grave, into which

My grief forever I’ve consigned!

You are repose, you are peace,

You are bestowed on me from heaven.

Your love for me gives me my worth,

Your eyes transfigure me in mine,

You raise me lovingly above myself,

My guardian angel, my better self!

Translation by Richard Stokes, author of The Book of Lieder (Faber, 2005)

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The Lied

Robert Schumann's piano teacher in his early career was Friedrich Wieck; Wieck's daughter Clara was also a virtuoso pianist (and also became a renowned composer). Robert and Clara fell in love; her father refused to give his blessing, but the two married three years later anyway. The song cycle "Myrthen" (Myrtles), for which "Widmung" is the opening song, was Robert's wedding gift to Clara. On the day of their wedding, he presented her with the songs, bound with a red velvet inscription which said "To my beloved bride".

The song is in several sections - joyful and loving, introspective and anticipatory - and it ends with a reference to Schubert's "Ave Maria"/"Ellens dritter Gesang" (supposedly a favourite of Clara's).

Listen to renowned singer Elly Ameling and pianist Dalton Baldwin perform "Widmung":

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The Product

The "Widmung" design can be used in a variety of ways, such as printed for wall art/a greeting card, or sent digitally to a loved one. It comes in two versions: one with a plain background with the words "I (heart) you" (the heart framing a portion of the musical score), and one with the text of the poem over the background. There are four colours of each.

When you purchase this print, you will receive DIGITAL FILES in two zipped folders, each containing 1x A4 PDF, 1x A5 PDF, and 4x PNG files. Other sizes and formats available upon request.

Available now on Etsy!

I want it!