Doch die Kastraten klagten

Doch die [Kastraten]1 klagten,
Als ich meine Stimm erhob;
Sie klagten und sie sagten:
Ich sänge viel zu grob.

Und lieblich erhoben sie alle
Die kleinen Stimmelein,
Die Trillerchen, wie Kristalle,
Sie klangen so fein und rein.

Sie sangen von Liebessehnen,
Von Liebe und Liebeserguß;
Die Damen schwammen in Tränen
Bei solchem Kunstgenuß.

by Heinrich Heine (1797-1856) , no title, from Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 79

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by David Leonard Blake (1936-) , "from die Heimkehr (79)", published 1988 [baritone, oboe, and piano], from Six Heine Songs, no. 3.
by Bernard van Dieren (1887-1936) , "Doch die Kastraten klagten", 1930.
by Franz Xaver Gardeweg (1944-) , "Doch die Kastraten", 1997, from 7 Lieder nach gedichten von H. Heine, no. 6.
by Niels Frédéric Hoffmann (1943-) , "Doch die Kastraten klagten" [voice, piano, trombone and percussion]
by Johannes Hömberg (1932-) , "Doch die Kastraten", 1993, from Heine-Lieder, no. 3.
by Peter Janssens (1934-) , "Doch die Kastraten klagten", published 1976, from Heinrich Heine Song Buch, no. 6.
by R. Johndorff , "Doch die Kastraten klagten", from Lieder, no. 7
by Johann Vesque von Püttlingen (1803-1883) , "Doch die Bewußten klagten", published 1851, from Die Heimkehr : 88 Gedichte aus H. Heine's Reisebildern, no. 79.

ENG English (Emma Lazarus)
FRE French (Pierre Mathé)

Date added to the website: 2008-02-26.

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But the eunuchs still complained

But the eunuchs still complained,
   When I raised my voice to sing --
They complained and they maintained
   That it had too harsh a ring.

And they raised with one accord
   All their dainty voices clear,
Little crystal trills outpoured --
   Oh, how pure and fine to hear!

And they sang of love so sweet,
   Love's desire and love's full measure,
That the rare artistic treat
   Made the ladies weep for pleasure.

by Emma Lazarus (1849-1887) , from Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, published 1881

a text in German by Heinrich Heine (1797-1856) , no title, from Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 79 FRE

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

[ None yet in the database ]

Date added to the website: 2008-05-03.