Korgscrew
Group: Super Admins
Posts: 3511
Joined: Dec. 1999 |
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Posted: June 15 2008, 14:23 |
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Of Schiller's work, I've only really heard Tag und Nacht plus a few other songs. My feeling from hearing those is that I support the use of German...which I should say is my opinion in general; while I realise that the widespread teaching and use of English is what makes forums like this one - amongst other things - possible, I think languages are a distinct part of identity, and I think that's something that should be reflected wherever possible.
I think each language does have a distinct character - as Harmono demonstrated with the use of Wirbelsäule (meaning spine, for anyone still puzzling  )! I ruminated on that a little bit in a poetry topic that bee started a while ago - specifically, the issues in translating Theodor Storm's Die Stadt into English and how it loses something in the process (indeed, I actually think it's an inevitable and perhaps even necessary thing that something gets lost in the process of translation - I'd say the aim with a successful translation is more of adding something that's equivalently good than it is about trying to not lose things).
So...my feeling is that with any piece of writing where the words have really been chosen for effect is that the language it's written in is an essential part of that process, partly because of the sound and partly because of the way certain concepts can be expressed. I must say that on the subject of Mozart, I'm with Sweetpea as far as not being a huge fan (but also in my case, I must add, not a huge expert) of his music, but on listening to Der Hölle Rache and examining the libretto, my inclination is to say that a certain amount of ugliness is deliberate. considering she's explaining that the vengeance of hell is boiling in her heart, with death and despair licking up around her like flames, I'd personally say it works better when sentiments like that aren't made to sound too pretty (I think he's on the edge of doing that with the music anyway, actually...).
I'd also say that similar is the case with Die Nacht (Du Bist Nicht Allein) - I feel that the sound of the words has a hard and often dark edge, which I find fits very well with the message of the song (the coming of night, though I'd say almost more in a figurative sense - either way, a lot of the verses seem to describe despair and anguish, even though there is a thread of hope running all the way through). I think that's a really nice example of all the elements working together to full effect in Schiller's music, actually.
I'm less keen on Der Tag (Du Bist Erwacht) in general, but I do rather like the "Schmetterlingsflügel, Schneeflockentanz" bit. I wouldn't like it any more in English...
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Goodness, Harmono. Even knowing what that means, it still sounds naughty! 
