An Sylvia (Who is Sylvia) (Franz Schubert)
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Music files (2 editions available)
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CPDL #17769: 
- Contributor: David Newman (added 2008-07-27). Score information: Letter, 4 pages Copyright: Public Domain
- Edition notes: Both English and Italian lyrics - English lyrics by William Shakespeare - Edition is in A Major.
- CPDL #4362:
- Editor: Peter Chubb (added 2002-12-14). Score information: 2 pages Copyright: Public Domain
- Edition notes: German and English versions available, for high voice, in zipped format.
General Information
Title: An Sylvia, Op. 106, No. 4, D. 891
Composer: Franz Schubert
Lyricist: Eduard von Bauernfeld (1802-1890)
Number of voices: 1v Voicing: Soprano Solo
Genre: Secular, Lied
Language: German
Instruments: Piano
Published: 1827
Description: German lyrics by Eduard von Bauernfeld (1802-1890), Based on a text in English by William Shakespeare (1564-1616), from Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act IV, Scene 2.
External websites:
- Entry at "Art Song Central" for this song.
- Entry at the "Lied and Art Song Texts Page"
- English translation at the "Lied and Art Song Texts Page"
- Spanish translation at the "Lied and Art Song Texts Page"
- Dutch lyrics at the "Lied and Art Song Texts Page"
- Italian translation at the "Lied and Art Song Texts Page"
- Italian translation at the "Lied and Art Song Texts Page"
- 2nd Italian translation at the "Lied and Art Song Texts Page"
Original text and translations
German text
- Du holde Kunst, in wieviel grauen Stunden,
- Wo mich des Lebens wilder Kreis umstrickt,
- Hast du mein Herz zu warmer Lieb entzunden,
- Hast mich in eine beßre Welt entrückt!
- Oft hat ein Seufzer, deiner Harf’ entflossen,
- Ein süßer, heiliger Akkord von dir
- Den Himmel beßrer Zeiten mir erschlossen,
- Du holde Kunst, ich danke dir dafür!
English translation
- Who is Silvia? what is she,
- That all our swains commend her?
- Holy, fair and wise is she;
- The heavens such grace did lend her,
- That she might admiréd be.
- Is she kind as she is fair?
- For beauty lives with kindness.
- Love doth to her eyes repair,
- To help him of his blindness,
- And being helped, inhabits there.
- Then to Silvia let us sing,
- That Silvia is excelling;
- She excels each mortal thing
- Upon the dull earth dwelling;
- To her let us garlands bring.