Hochroth (2006)

for SSAATTBB

Duration: 3 minutes

Sung in German

Program Note: Karoline von Günderode was born in Karlsruhe, Germany, on February 11, 1780. She was friends with Clemens Brentano and Bettina von Armin, who discovered her poetic talents. Goethe admired her first book, “Poems and Fantasies,” published in 1804 under the pseudonym “Tian.” On July 26, 1806, Karoline took her own life at the River Rhine, over the unrequited love of a linguist from Heidelberg, Friedrich Creutzer. The year 2006 marked the 200-year anniversary of her death and “Hochroth” was written in memory of her life.

Hochroth

Text: Karoline von Günderode

Du innig Roth,

Bis an den Tod

Soll mein Lieb Dir gleichen,

Soll nimmer bleichen,

Bis an den Tod,

Du glühend Roth,

Soll sie Dir gleichen.

Deep Red

translation: Ingrid Stölzel

You intimate red,

until death

shall my love remain the same,

shall never fade,

until death,

you glowing red,

Shall it remain the same.