Favorite Lieder (1): Hugo Wolf's "In der Frühe"

It has been said that art is concentrated and intensified experience. That is certainly the case in Hugo Wolf's song "In der Frühe."

There is a well-known proverb that says it is always darkest before the dawn. That is the theme of Eduard Mörike's poem "In der Frühe" (In the Early Morning). This poem was set to music in 1888 by Austrian composer Hugo Wolf.

The song starts in a dark, oppressive mode, with slightly discordant chords. Then there is a transition with the second stanza. One can almost feel the sun rising as the piano lightens and the voice begins to soar. At the end, you can hear the peal of the morning bells in the background.

Below is the German text of the song, followed by my English translation.

In der Frühe

Kein Schlaf noch kühlt das Auge mir,
Dort gehet schon der Tag herfür
An meinem Kammerfenster.
Es wühlet mein verstörter Sinn
Noch zwischen Zweifeln her und hin
Und schaffet Nachtgespenster.

Ängste, quäle
dich nicht länger, meine Seele!
Freu' dich! Schon sind da und dorten
Morgenglocken wach geworden.

(Eduard Mörike, 1804-1875)


In the Early Morning

No sleep yet soothes my burning eyes.
Day is already breaking
outside my bedroom window.
My anxious thoughts still
probe among my doubts
and create night monsters.

Fear not. Torment
yourself no longer,
my soul!
Be happy.
Already, here and there,
morning bells are stirring.

(English translation 2008 by Celia A. Sgroi)


You can hear this song sung by the great soprano Lotte Lehmann. Scroll down the "Featured Recordings" page to "Selected Songs/Lieder" and click on number 31.