Die Lotosblume

"Die Lotosblume" ("The Lotus Flower") is a poem written by Heinrich Heine, and published in his Buch der Lieder (The Book of Songs, 1827).^[1] Set to music by Robert Schumann in 1840,^[2] this Lied is part of Schumann's Myrthen collection (op. 25 no. 7))^[3] and Six Songs for Männerchor (op. 33 no. 3). It is written in the key of F Major, and set in ⁶
₄ time.^[4] The piece speaks of the blooming of a lotus flower, who hides from the sun and only reveals herself at night to her lover, the moon.^[5] Due to circumstances at the time, the lyrics were intended to have a double meaning.^{[clarification needed]}^{[citation needed]}

Text

Deutsch	English
Die Lotosblume ängstigt Sich vor der Sonne Pracht, Und mit gesenktem Haupte Erwartet sie träumend die Nacht. Der Mond, der ist ihr Buhle, Er weckt sie mit seinem Licht, Und ihm entschleiert sie freundlich Ihr frommes Blumengesicht. Sie blüht und glüht und leuchtet, Und starret stumm in die Höh; Sie duftet und weinet und zittert Vor Liebe und Liebesweh.	The Lotus flower is afraid of the sun's splendour, and with drooping head she dreamily awaits the night. The moon, he is her lover. He wakes her with his light and to him she happily unveils her devoted flower-face. She blooms and glows and shines and stares mute into the heavens. She exhales and weeps and trembles with love and love's pain.

References

^ Sammons, Jeffrey L. "Heinrich Heine". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved February 13, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ Programs Stanford University. Dept. of Music - 2003 Die Lotosblume is a poem by Heinrich Heine, a poet whose works Schumann used heavily in his song cycles. Schumann was interested in the contrast between innocence and sensuality in Heine's poems and this contrast is clearly seen here
^ Palmer, John. "Robert Schumann - Myrthen, 26 songs for voice & piano, Op. 25". Allmusic. Retrieved December 4, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ "Die Lotosblume - Composed by Robert Schumann". musicnotes.com. Retrieved February 11, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^ Gailey, Meredith. "Robert Schumann - Die Lotosblume". Allmusic. Retrieved January 28, 2018.

[1] Sammons, Jeffrey L. "Heinrich Heine". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved February 13, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[2] Programs Stanford University. Dept. of Music - 2003 Die Lotosblume is a poem by Heinrich Heine, a poet whose works Schumann used heavily in his song cycles. Schumann was interested in the contrast between innocence and sensuality in Heine's poems and this contrast is clearly seen here

[3] Palmer, John. "Robert Schumann - Myrthen, 26 songs for voice & piano, Op. 25". Allmusic. Retrieved December 4, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[4] "Die Lotosblume - Composed by Robert Schumann". musicnotes.com. Retrieved February 11, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

[5] Gailey, Meredith. "Robert Schumann - Die Lotosblume". Allmusic. Retrieved January 28, 2018.

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v t e Heinrich Heine
Poems	"On Wings of Song" (1827) "Die Lotosblume" (1840) "The Silesian Weavers" (1844) "Germany. A Winter's Tale" (1844)
Other works	Die Harzreise (1826)
Adaptations	"Der Doppelgänger" (1828) "Dichterliebe" (1840) Liederkreis, Op. 24 (1840) Frühlingslied, WAB 68 (1851) "Du bist wie eine Blume, WAB 64" (1861) William Ratcliff (1869) Guglielmo Ratcliff (1895) Deaf to Our Prayers (2006)
Other	The Gaze of the Gorgon Schwanengesang Lisztomania Der fliegende Holländer
Family	Gustav Heine von Geldern (brother) Maximilian Meyer Heine (brother) Salomon Heine (uncle/patron) Armand Heine (cousin) Michel Heine (cousin) Alice Heine (distant cousin) Robert von Heine-Geldern (grandnephew) Simon von Geldern (great uncle) Karl Marx (third cousin once removed)