CCCLXXXII. MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus: Im Frühlingsanfang, K. 597

CCCLXXXII. MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus (1765-1791)

Im Frühlingsanfang, K. 597 (1791)
Julianne Baird, soprano
Colin Tilney, piano
(3:23)

Despite being near death, 1791 was a productive year for the seriously-ill composer in terms of composition. That he spun off such seemingly trifling gems as this song is all the more remarkable when one considers the bigger projects he was engrossed in completing (The Magic Flute [Post CCLXXV]; Requiem [Post CCXCII], etc.)

Text by Christoph Christian Sturm.

 

Baird only sings verses 1, 2, and 6, but here is the translation for all six verses:

1.

Awakened to new life
Nature stands before me;
And mild breezes weave
Through the rejuvenated fields.
Upward from its seed
Sprouts the young stalk;
The woods' barren silence
Is enlivened by the bird's psalm.

2.

O Father! Your gentleness
Is felt by mountain and valley and meadow.
The fields are turning green,
Pearled by the morning dew;
Already the herd is springing in the valley
Toward the flowery pasture,
And in the dust countless worms
Are wriggling.

3.

As the sun shines from the blue fortress
On our meadow,
So is every creature
Consecrated to the feast of creation,
And all the leaves are sprouting
From their seeds,
And all the birds are rising,
Soaring, out of their sleep.

4.

The fields in floral dress
Creator, are your altar,
And the young year
Consecrates offerings of pure joy to you;
It brings you the first scents
Of the blue violet,
And floating through the air,
The lark sings its praises to you.

5.

I look at it and soar
Up to you, full of gratitude;
O Creator of all things,
Blessed be you to me!
Raised far above them,
I can feel the fields' magnificence,
I can praise you,
Who made the spring.

6.

Sing praises to Him, my soul,
To the God who creates joy!
Sing praises to Him, and proclaim
The power of His works!
Here, from the hill of flowers
Up to the orbits of the stars,
Life, on the wings of devotion,
Your song of praise heavenward!

Many thanks to Ted Ganger for the translation, the only complete one on the internet, as far as I can tell ...