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German Romanticism

Beethoven, Schumann, Wagner, Caspar David Friedrich's art, the writing of Goethe, ETA Hoffmann, Novalis and Dorothea Schlegel feature in an episode celebrating German Romanticism.

Beethoven, Schumann, Wagner, Caspar David Friedrich's art, the writing of Goethe, ETA Hoffmann, Novalis and Dorothea Schlegel feature in an episode celebrating German Romanticism.

The linking of art, philosophy, science, music and literature was crucial in the development German Romanticism. On September 5th 1774, the painter Caspar David Friedrich was born. His images often featured Gothic ruins, silhouetted figures on rocks, dramatic mountain landscapes, the light of night skies and morning mists. His works became an emblem of German Romanticism. In today's Words and Music we'll hear Johanna Schopenhauer describing one of his paintings of the Baltic Sea, part of Goethe's influential novel The Sorrows of Young Werther and an excerpt from Penelope Fitzgerald's novel The Blue Flower about the poet Novalis. Composers like Robert Schumann, Carl Maria von Weber and Richard Strauss typify this era, with recurring themes of returning to nature, exploring the supernatural and contentment in solitude. There are also pieces inspired by these themes such as My Neighbour Totoro by Joe Hisaishi, Mr Sandman by the 1950s vocal group The Chordettes and a string arrangement of Duke Ellington's Solitude.

Our readers are Emily Pithon and Nuhazet Diaz Cano

We feature readings suggestions and some translations from Dr Se谩n Williams, who teaches Germanic languages and culture at the University of Sheffield and is a 麻豆约拍/AHRC New Generation Thinker on the scheme which showcases the research of early career academics. On 麻豆约拍 Sounds you can find Se谩n sharing information with Andrew McGregor about tourism in the Alps in the interval for the Proms concert 27 (tx August 9th) featuring Strauss's Alpine Symphony, which you can also hear in this edition of Words and Music.

Producers in Salford: Nancy Bennie and Lizzie Foster

Readings:
To A Trellised Tree - Sophie Mereau - translation by Walter Arndt
The Blue Flower - Penelope Fitzgerald
The World Must be Romanticised - Novalis - translation by Ernest Schonfield
The Sorrows of Young Werther - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - translation by R. Dillon Boylan
Magnificent Rebels - Andrea Wulf
The Sandman - ETA Hoffman - translation by John Oxenford
Hansel and Gretel - Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm 鈥� translation by Margaret Hunt
Attend to Yourself - Johann Gottlieb Fichte - translation by Daniel Breazeale
I Have to Tell You Something Funny - Dorothea Schlegel - translation by Haynes Horne, Andreas Michel, Elizabeth Mittman, Assenka Oksiloff, Lisa C Roetzel and Mary R Strand
Irony is the form of the paradoxical - Friedrich Schlegel - translation by Haynes Horne, Andreas Michel, Elizabeth Mittman, Assenka Oksiloff, Lisa C Roetzel and Mary R Strand
The Best 鈥楽tewart Lee: Content Provider鈥� Review of All Time - Marco Cardoni
I Must Stay Alone - Caspar David Friedrich - translation by Andreas Sch枚nle
Friedrich in Dresden - Johanna Schopenhauer - translation by Se谩n Williams
He Who Devotes Himself to Solitude - Bettina von Arnim - translation by Briony Williams
Wilhelm Meister鈥檚 Travels - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - translation by Thomas Carlyle

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1 hour, 14 minutes

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麻豆约拍 Radio 3

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:01

    Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 "Pastoral" - III. Lustiges Zusammen

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • Deutsche Grammophon 28946900024.
    • Tr23.

  • Sophie Mereau

    To A Trellised Tree, read by Emily Pithon

  • 00:06

    Franz Schubert

    Winterreise, D. 911 "Winter Journey": V. Der Lindenbaum

    Performer: Roderick Williams. Performer: Christopher Glynn.
    • Signum Records SIGCD531.
    • Tr5.

  • Penelope Fitzgerald

    The Blue Flower, read by Nuhazet Diaz Cano

  • 00:11

    Robert Schumann

    Waldszenen: 3. Einsame blumen

    Performer: Calefax Reed Quartet.
    • Rioja Records RR 1501.
    • Tr3.

  • Novalis

    The World Must Be Romanticised, read by Emily Pithon

  • 00:14

    Louise Reichardt

    Aus Novalis Hymnen an die Nacht

    Singer: Gerald Finley. Performer: Graham Johnson.
    • Hyperion CDJ33051/3.
    • Tr6.
  • 00:16

    Joe Hisaishi

    My Neighbor Totoro

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Mark Austin.
    • Deutsche Grammophon 488 1223.
    • Tr29.
  • 00:20

    Felix Mendelssohn

    String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor, Op. 13 - II. Adagio Non Lento

    Performer: Elias String Quartet.
    • Alto ALC 1303.
    • Tr2.

  • Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

    The Sorrow of Young Werther, read by Nuhazet Diaz Cano

  • Andrea Wulf

    Magnificent Rebels, read by Emily Pithon

  • 00:26

    Robert Schumann

    Requiem f眉r Mignon, Op. 98b - VI. Lebhaft

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Choir: Vienna State Opera Choir. Conductor: Erwin Ortner. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • Deutsche Grammophon 435 486-2.
    • Tr14.
  • 00:28

    Pat Ballard

    Mr Sandman

    Performer: The Chordettes.
    • EI Records ACMEM80CD.
    • Tr8.

  • ETA Hoffman

    The Sandman, read by Nuhazet Diaz Cano

  • 00:31

    Stephen Sondheim

    Almost Midnight

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • Into the Woods (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack/Deluxe Edition).
    • Walt Disney Records.
    • 33.
  • 00:31

    Stephen Sondheim

    Into The Woods 鈥淔ind the Boy鈥�

    Performer: Studio Orchestra.
    • Walt Disney Records D002076392.
    • Tr3.
  • 00:32

    Engelbert Humperdinck

    H盲nsel und Gretel, EHWV 93/3: Prelude

    Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jeffrey Tate.
    • EMI Digital CDS7540222.
    • Tr1.

  • Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

    Hansel and Gretel , read by Emily Pithon

  • 00:40

    Carl Maria von Weber

    Der Freisch眉tz, J. 277, Act III: Was gleicht wohl auf Erden dem J盲gerverg

    Orchestra: Staatskapelle Dresden. Choir: MDR Rundfunkchor Leipzig. Conductor: Carlos Kleiber.
    • Deutsche Grammophon 457 736-2.
    • 27.
  • 00:43

    Robert Schumann

    Dichterliebe, Op. 48: Die Alten, Bosen Lieder

    Performer: Uri Caine Ensemble.
    • Winter & Winter 910 0492.
    • Tr20.

  • Johann Gottlieb Fichte

    Attend to Yourself , read by Nuhazet Diaz Cano

  • 00:43

    Robert Schumann

    Dichterliebe, Op. 48: Die Alten, Bosen Lieder

    Ensemble: Uri Caine Ensemble.
    • Robert Schumann - Love Fugue.
    • Winter & Winter.
    • 20.

  • Dorothea Schlegel

    I have to tell you something funny, read by Emily Pithon

  • Friedrich Schlegel

    Irony is the form of the paradoxical , read by Nuhazet Diaz Cano

  • 00:46

    Craig Scanlon

    DKTR. Faustus

    Composer: Mark E. Smith. Ensemble: The Fall.
    • Bend Sinister.
    • Beggars Banquet.
    • 2.

  • Marco Cardoni

    The Best 鈥楽tewart Lee: Content Provider鈥� Review of All Time, read by Emily Pithon

  • Caspar David Friedrich

    I Must Stay Alone, read by Nuhazet Diaz Cano

  • 00:48

    Richard Strauss

    Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64, TrV 233: XXI. Ausklang

    Orchestra: Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andr茅s Orozco鈥怑strada.
    • Pentatone PTC5186628.
    • Tr21.
  • 00:50

    Richard Strauss

    Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64, TrV 233: XXII. Nacht

    Orchestra: Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andr茅s Orozco鈥怑strada.
    • Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 22.
  • 00:52

    Ludwig van Beethoven

    Meeresstille und gl眉ckliche Fahrt, Op. 112

    Orchestra: German Symphony Orchestra Berlin. Choir: RIAS Chamber Choir. Choir: Ernst鈥怱enff鈥怌hor. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • Decca 4175632.
    • Tr6.

  • Johanna Schopenhauer

    Friedrich in Dresden, read by Emily Pithon

  • 00:58

    Duke Ellington

    Solitude

    Conductor: Neeme J盲rvi. Orchestra: Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
    • Favourite Encores!.
    • Chandos.
    • 8.

  • Bettina von Arnim

    He who devotes himself to solitude, read by Nuhazet Diaz Cano

  • 01:02

    Clara Schumann

    3 Romances, Op. 11 - No. 1, Andante

    Performer: Isata Kanneh-Mason (piano).
    • Decca 4850020.
    • Tr4.
  • 01:05

    Richard Wagner

    Siegfried, Act II Scene 2: Forest Murmurs

    Orchestra: National Theater Opera Orchestra of Paris. Conductor: Philippe Jordan.
    • Erato 9341422.
    • Tr4.

  • Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

    Wilhelm Meister鈥檚 Travels, read by Nuhazet Diaz Cano

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