Brahms' Lullaby

Brahms' Lullaby is the common name for a number of children's lullabies with similar lyrics and the same melody, the original of which was Johannes Brahms' Wiegenlied: Guten Abend, gute Nacht, Op. 49, No. 4.

Wiegenlied

Johannes Brahms' original version was composed in German::"Guten Abend, gute Nacht, mit Rosen bedacht,":"Mit Näglein besteckt, schlüpf unter die Deck!"':"Morgen früh, wenn Gott will, wirst du wieder geweckt":"Morgen früh, wenn Gott will, wirst du wieder geweckt"

:"Guten Abend, gute Nacht, von Englein bewacht":"Die zeigen im Traum, dir Christkindleins Baum":"Schlaf nun selig und süß, schau im Traum 's Paradies":"Schlaf nun selig und süß, schau im Traum 's Paradies"

A close English translation of which is::"Good evening, and good night, with roses adorned,":"With carnations covered, slip under the covers.":"Early tomorrow, when God wills, you will wake once again.":"Early tomorrow, when God wills, you will wake once again."

:"Good evening, and good night. By angels watched,":"Who show you in your dream the Christ-child's tree.":"Sleep now peacefully and sweetly, see the paradise in your dream.":"Sleep now peacefully and sweetly, see the paradise in your dream."

Versions

The most common English version is as follows::"Lullaby and good night, with roses bedight":"With lilies o'er spread is baby's wee bed":"Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed":"Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed"

:"Lullaby and good night, thy mother's delight":"Bright angels beside my darling abide":"They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast":"They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast"

Further verses from various sources may be added to lengthen the lullaby::"Sleepyhead, close your eyes, mother's right here beside you.":"I'll protect you from harm, you will wake in my arms.":"Guardian angels are near, so sleep on, with no fear.":"Guardian angels are near, so sleep on, with no fear."

:"Lullaby, and sleep tight, hush! My darling is sleeping,":"On his sheets white as cream, with his head full of dreams.":"When the sky's bright with dawn, he will wake in the morning.":"When noontide warms the world, he will frolic in the sun."

:"Go to sleep, little one, think of puppies and kittens.":"Go to sleep, little one, think of butterflies in spring.":"Go to sleep, little one, think of sunny bright mornings.":"Go to sleep, little one, sleep tight through the night."

Arrangements

In 1922, Australian pianist and composer Percy Grainger arranged the "Wiegenlied" as one of his "Free Settings of Favorite Melodies" for solo piano. This study was characterized by much use of suspensions and arpeggiation, with the first statement of the melody placed in the tenor range of the keyboard. This last practioe was a favorite one of Grainger. [Ould, 5.]

References

* [http://www.recmusic.org/lieder/get_text.html?TextId=19669 Text of the Wiegenlied at Recmusic.org]

Bibliography

* Ould, Barry Peter, Notes for Hyperion CDA67279, "Percy Grainger: Rambles and Reflections—Piano Transcriptions", Piers Lane, piano.

External links

* [http://artsongcentral.com/2007/brahms-wiegenlied/ Sheet music for Brahms' Lullaby (Wiegenlied)]
* [http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/lullaby.htm Tune with more lyrical versions of the lullaby]
* [http://www.smart-central.com/Brahms_Lullaby.html Another website with lyrics]