One of my personal favorite lovesongs is "Der Nussbaum" (The Walnut Tree) by German composor Robert Schumann. He wrote this song in 1840 for his soon to be wife Clara, and presented it to her on their wedding day. Clara and Robert met each other through her father, who was Robert's
piano teacher at the time. Clara, who was a very gifted piano player was her father's favorite. In fact, her father considered her
too precious to marry Robert, who hadn't achieved his fame yet. Her father forbid them from seeing each
other, and it took several years and a court trial to eventually be able to marry each
other.
The lyrics for "Der Nussbaum" were taken from Julius Mosen's poem with the same title. Schumann wrote the song while he was away from his fiancee, and it focuses on their seperation. The song talks about two walnut trees that softly whisper to eachother. They whisper about a young woman who is seperated from her lover, whom she will marry the following year.
"Der Nussbaum" is one of 26 other (beautiful) songs Schumann wrote for their wedding day. The collection called "Myrthen, Op. 25" all focus on the various feelings and emotions that come along with being in love. "Die Lotusblume" and my other favorits "Aus den Östlichten Rosen" and "Widmung" are also included in this bundle.
"Der Nussbaum" is the third song on "Myrthen" and became one of Schumann's most popular songs. It is much appreciated for its splendid integration of the voice and accompanying piano. Many opera singers gave their own rendition of the song, but my favorite by far is this version by Victoria de Los Angeles with Manuel Garcia-Morante on the piano: "Der Nussbaum". A YouTube version of the song, sung by Victoria de Los Angeles but with a different pianist can be found here.
You may also like:
- A Beautiful Voice
- One of the Most Covered Songs in History
- The Sound of America
The lyrics for "Der Nussbaum" were taken from Julius Mosen's poem with the same title. Schumann wrote the song while he was away from his fiancee, and it focuses on their seperation. The song talks about two walnut trees that softly whisper to eachother. They whisper about a young woman who is seperated from her lover, whom she will marry the following year.
"Der Nussbaum" is one of 26 other (beautiful) songs Schumann wrote for their wedding day. The collection called "Myrthen, Op. 25" all focus on the various feelings and emotions that come along with being in love. "Die Lotusblume" and my other favorits "Aus den Östlichten Rosen" and "Widmung" are also included in this bundle.
"Der Nussbaum" is the third song on "Myrthen" and became one of Schumann's most popular songs. It is much appreciated for its splendid integration of the voice and accompanying piano. Many opera singers gave their own rendition of the song, but my favorite by far is this version by Victoria de Los Angeles with Manuel Garcia-Morante on the piano: "Der Nussbaum". A YouTube version of the song, sung by Victoria de Los Angeles but with a different pianist can be found here.
Robert Schumann with his wife Clara,
somewhere between 1840 and 1856
somewhere between 1840 and 1856
You may also like:
- A Beautiful Voice
- One of the Most Covered Songs in History
- The Sound of America
