Liebster, sagt in süssem Schmerzen, SWV 441 (Heinrich Schütz)

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  • (Posted 2015-12-16)  CPDL #37889:         
Editor: James Gibb (submitted 2015-12-16).   Score information: A4, 7 pages, 112 kB   Copyright: CPDL
Edition notes: Clefs modernised. Musica ficta in source absorbed into staves; other musica ficta are editorial. Time signature changed from 8/4 to 4/4. Source may be found at IMSLP. . Revised files uploaded 02/08/18.

General Information

Title: Liebster, sagt in süssem Schmerzen, SWV 441
Composer: Heinrich Schütz
Lyricist: Martin Opitz

Number of voices: 2vv   Voicing: SS
Genre: SecularMadrigal

Language: German
Instruments: 2 violins and bc

First published: 1893 in Heinrich Schütz: Sämtliche Werke, Volume 15, no. 4
    2nd published: 1970 in Neue Schütz-Ausgabe, Volume 37, no. 10
Description: 

External websites:

Original text and translations

German.png German text

1  Liebster, sagt in süssem Schmerzen
deine Sulamithin dir,
komm doch, saget sie von Herzen,
küsse mich, o meine Zier,
deine Huld ist zu erheben
für des schönsten Weines Reben.

2  Dein Geruch der ist viel besser,
als der feist Olivensaft
an dem syrischen Gewässer,
als des Balsams edle Kraft,
darum müssen auf dich schauen
und dich lieben die Jungfrauen.

3  Zeuch mich hinter dir, wir kommen,
folgen deinen Händen nach,
nun er hat mich eingenommen
in sein heilges Schlafgemach,
will mich wissen an der Enden,
wo sich meine Brunst kann wenden.

4  Wem darf ich an Glücke weichen,
weil mich der so sehnlich liebt,
dem kein Wein ist zu verleichen,
den die beste Traube giebt!
Alle Leute, welche leben,
müssen meinen Freund erheben.

5  Meint ihr, dass ich minder gelte,
o ihr Töchter Solyme,
weil ich schwarz bin, wie die Zelte
an der heissen Mohrensee,
könnt ich Schönheit doch noch leihen
Salomons Tapezereien.

6  Dass ich branne Haut gewonnen,
seht mich darum nicht so an,
ich bin schwarzbraun von der Sonnen,
ihre Brunst hat dies gethan,
seit dass mich in Zorn und Hassen
meiner Mutter Kinder fassen.

7  Ich muss ihnen stets verwachen
ihre Berg und ihren Wein,
ihre Berge, welche machen,
dass ich itzund schwarz soll sein,
aber mein Berg blieb nur liegen,
weil ich musste sie vergnügen.

English.png English text

Let him kiss me with his kisses,
In lovesickness so she cried
Let him kiss me with the kisses
of his mouth, to soothe my woe.
For his love it is far better
than the wine of sweetest savour.

The aroma of your fragrance
is enhancèd by your name.
Your name which is an ointment rich,
Pouring out its balm and bliss.
Speaks to the daughters of Salem,
Therefore you do the virgins love.

Draw me then my love behind you,
For you I will run after.
Lead me to where you want to lead
Closely I will stay behind.
Take me, my King, into your rooms
Into your chambers, O my Love.

In you the virgins shall rejoice,
In your love shall we be glad.
The virgins shall remember you,
much more than sweetest wine.
The upright shall lift up your name,
They shall for ever praise your love.

O daughters of Jerusalem,
Do not consider me as low.
I am black, yet I am comely
As the king’s tent in Kedar
The tapestries of Solomon,
My beauty surpasses them all.

Do not look, o virgins, on me
For the blackness of my skin.
The bright sun has looked upon me
To turn brown the melanin.
My mother’s children angry were,
Their vineyards sending me to work.

They made me watcher of the mount,
A watcher of their vineyard.
The sun in the heat of the day,
On their mountain burned my skin.
But my own vineyard to keep I failed
Whilst working to please my brothers.

The German text is quite a free paraphrase of the Song 1:1-6. I have therefore also been quite free in my paraphrase of the German, moving it closer to the original text. I have left the translation request here in the hope that someone else will produce a more accurate translation of the German text that Schütz has used. Stuartm (talk) 20:30, 8 March 2022 (UTC)
 

English.png English translation requested