Peter Stadlen (piano)
Harold Child (baritone)
The Harper's Songs (from Goethe's
Wilhelm Meister ):
Wer sich der Einsamkeit ergibt Wer nie sein Brot mit Triinen ass An die Tiiren will ich schleichen
Piano Sonata in B flat, Op. posth.
The harper from Goethe's ' Wilhelm Meister ' inspired many of the romantic composers. Richard Capell gives the following synopsis of ' Wer sich der Einsamkeit erglbt': Some live for life's sake, some for love: but for me grief in solitude, the grief that leaves me never alone but creeps in as a lover to his mistress. Grief, I hug thee to me. But better were the utter solitude of the grave.' No less poignant, as an expression of grief, is the second song, from Book 2; while the third song, from Book 5, depicts the harper's resignation as he wanders from door to door