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http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2012/Feb12/Wanderer_CC72518.htm Posted by Martin Walker on February 20, 2012, 9:29 am 92.78.177.76 I think Michael Cookson owes all Schumann lovers an explanation of this: "my favourite of all the songs with its memorable melody Der Dichter spricht (The poet speaks) is movingly performed - so tender and dreamy." Like the Waldszenen, some of which are performed on the CD in transcription, this is actually a piano piece (from Kinderszenen) - so by whom is the text and the vocal transcription? (It would be a good idea in general to indicate the poets set when giving the contents of a Lieder recording, as they are co-authors of the songs.)

Re: http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2012/Feb12/Wanderer_CC72518.htm Posted by Martin Walker on February 20, 2012, 12:07 pm, in reply to "http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2012/Feb12/Wanderer_CC72518.htm" 92.78.179.18 I will try to answer my own question here: I have in the meantime heard a brief excerpt from this on Amazon where voice enters with the words: "Und die Welt hebt an..." I guessed that this is from what is possibly the most famously sibylline of German Romantic statements in verse, Eichendorff's Wünschelruthe, which goes as follows: Schläft ein Lied in allen Dingen, Die da träumen fort und fort, Und die Welt hebt an zu singen, Triffst du nur das Zauberwort. As far as I can see the Lied and Art-Song site does not give an English translation of this - probably as the setting by Karl Marx (not the one whose pen was his Capital!) is a 3-part canon for choir, not a Lied. Here is mine: Divining rod A song's asleep in everything - All things dreaming long and well - And the world begins to sing, Can you but speak the magic spell. It is of course likely that Schumann knew this text (circa 1835) and possible that his title The poet speaks for the last piece of Kinderszenen actually referred to it in the composer's mind, so the idea of doing this was rather appropriate, though I cannot say how effective it is, not having heard all of it.

Re: http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2012/Feb12/Wanderer_CC72518.htm Posted by Michael Cookison on February 20, 2012, 1:26 pm, in reply to "http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2012/Feb12/Wanderer_CC72518.htm" 217.155.206.169 I thank Mr. Walker for his interest. Here is my response to his note: The texts to transcriptions of the Schumann piano pieces: In der Fremde, Op. 39, No. 8 (1840) (from Liederkreis, Op. 39); Waldesgespräch, Op. 39, No. 3 (1840) (from Liederkreis, Op. 39); Mondnacht, Op. 39, No. 5 (1840) (from Liederkreis, Op. 39); Der Dichter spricht (Kinderszenen, Op. 15, No.13) are are all stated in the booklet notes as being texts by Josef von Eichendorff. I will request Len that the author of each of the text is put on the track listings that follows after the review: http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2012/Feb12/Wanderer_CC72518.htm With regard to who made the arrangements/transcriptions. As stated in my review Marcus Reißenberger prepared these arrangements for voice and small chamber ensemble for Christian Prégardien specifically for this Wanderer project on Challenge Classics. A copy of the revised track listings is attached. Best regards, Michael

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