SCHUBERT'S SONGS
Sung by HELEN HENSCHEL (Soprnno)
Mignon's Song, 'So lasst mieh scheinen ' (Thus let me seem)
Fischerweise (Fisher's Song) Am Strome (By the stream)
Auf dem Wasser zu singen (To be sung on the water)
THE first, song comes from that incident in Book 8 of Goethe's Wilhelm Meister, in which Mignon dresses tip as an angel, bringing presents for the birthday of two children. She sings of her longing to become the blest spirit she appears to be, and ends :-
Free have I lived from sordid care,
Yet have I known still sharper pain-The weight of age too soon to bear ; Make me for aye a child again !
In Fischerweise the fisherman gaily sings of his life, than which he could wish none better. On the quay he spies a maiden, angling in vain. ' You may as well give up your artful pranks, sly creature.' he thinks, ' 'you won't deceive the fish !