Fünf Lieder (Five Songs), Op. 38

Composer: KORNGOLD, Erich Wolfgang
  • Korngold began composing his set of Five Songs, Op. 38 for voice and piano in 1940, completing the work in 1947.
    1. Glückwunsch (I Wish You Bliss) – Text by Richard Dehmel
    2. Der Kranke (The Sick Man) – Text by Joseph von Eichendorff
    3. Alt-spanisch (Old Spanish Song) – Text by Howard Koch
    4. Old English Song – Text by Anonymous poet
    5. My Mistress’ Eyes – Text by William Shakespeare
      • *NOTE the mix of German and English texts.
  • The work was dedicated to dramatic soprano Maria Jeritza.1
  • Korngold recycled melodies from his film scores for Op. 38, except the final song (“My Mistress’ Eyes”):
    • No. 1, “Glückwunsch,” developed from the main title theme of the 1946 film, Devotion.
    • No. 2, “Der Kranke,” is based on a theme from the Juarez (1939).
    • No. 3, “Alt-spanisch,” appears in The Sea Hawk, though Korngold originally wrote the song when he was 14.
    • No. 4, “Old English Song,” was originally written for The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939) but was ultimately cut from the film.2 3

Sources

  1. “5 Lieder, Op.38 (Korngold, Erich Wolfgang),” IMSLP, accessed Oct 21, 2024, https://imslp.org/wiki/5_Lieder%2C_Op.38_(Korngold%2C_Erich_Wolfgang).
  2. Jessica Duchen, Notes in accompanying booklet, Sonnett für Wien & other songs performed by Dame Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano), William Dazeley (baritone), and Iain Burnside (piano), Signum Classics 160, 2008, compact disc.
  3. Timothy Judd, “Korngold’s Five Songs, Op. 38: From Film Music to Lied,” The Listener’s Club (2022), accessed October 21, 2024, https://thelistenersclub.com/2022/06/29/korngolds-five-songs-op-38-from-film-music-to-lied/.

Cut IDs

26280