Dedication

I received an interesting short article in the mail today about a musical composition named Widmung, which means "dedication" in German. This composition was originally a poem of the same title, by Friedrich Ruckert, set to piano accompaniment by the famed composer Robert Schumann. This art song is the first song in the Myrthen song cycle which Schumann composed as a wedding gift for his wife, Clara Wieck, herself an accomplished composer and pianist. The completed song cycle was lavishly bound with a red velvet inscription that read "To my beloved bride". Wow! How romantic is that, to receive original compositions as a wedding gift!

In this song, Schumann expressed what Clara meant to him: his heart, his soul, his joy, his sorrow, his heaven, his better self.

In 1849, piano virtuoso Franz Liszt made a celebrated piano transcription of Widmung that further increased the influence of Robert Schumann. It's not what you would call a technically-challenging piece, but it is something that is so full of heart and love. It is indeed very, very moving.

Here is a video of Lang Lang playing Liszt's version of Widmung. 




This a rendition of Widmung by soprano Jessye Norman. This rendition is technically-accomplished and very expressive indeed :)



And here's one by Diana Damrau accompanied by the harp instead.



I wouldn't venture to claim that these are the best interpretations of Widmung out there; I'm sure if you looked hard enough, you would find others that are accomplished as well. Heck, for those who would be interested in playing and/or singing it, I even found a score here.

And if you're wondering what the words mean, here is the link to the original poem and its translation in several languages. Saves me the trouble of editing them in here.

You are rest, you are peace.
You are bestowed upon me from Heaven.
That you love me makes me worthy of you.

Beautiful, isn't it?