| Johann Michael Friedrich Rückert |
He spoke thirty languages, wrote complex books and created poetry, both strong
and delicate, that served as an inspiration to Lieder compositions of Brahms,
Schubert, the Schumanns and countless others. J.M. Friedrich Rückert was born
on May 16,1788 at Schweinfurt and educated at the universities of Wurzburg
and Heidelberg. At the same time anti-Napoleon sentiment in Germany was
bubbling over, he published his first book in 1814, echoing the feelings of his
countrymen under the pseudonym Freimund Raimar.
and delicate, that served as an inspiration to Lieder compositions of Brahms,
Schubert, the Schumanns and countless others. J.M. Friedrich Rückert was born
on May 16,1788 at Schweinfurt and educated at the universities of Wurzburg
and Heidelberg. At the same time anti-Napoleon sentiment in Germany was
bubbling over, he published his first book in 1814, echoing the feelings of his
countrymen under the pseudonym Freimund Raimar.
In Ruckert's poem "Chidher," an eternally youthful wanderer returns every half millennium to the
same place, each time encountering a completely transformed landscape. A town turns into to a
pasture and then to a lake, the lake to a forest and then to a city. Yet, whenever Chidher asks one of
the local inhabitants what has happened to the past environment, he always receives the same
answer: "What's here has always been here and will always remain.'' It would prove prophetic.
same place, each time encountering a completely transformed landscape. A town turns into to a
pasture and then to a lake, the lake to a forest and then to a city. Yet, whenever Chidher asks one of
the local inhabitants what has happened to the past environment, he always receives the same
answer: "What's here has always been here and will always remain.'' It would prove prophetic.
| Schweinfurt: "What's here has always been here and will always remain'' |
| Chidher, the ever youthful, told: I passed a city, bright to see; A man was culling fruits of gold, I asked him how old this town might be. He answered, culling as before “This town stood ever in days of yore, And will stand on forevermore!” |
| Five hundred years from yonder day I passed again the selfsame way, And of the town I found no trace; A shepherd blew on a reed instead; His herd was grazing on the place. “How long,” I asked, “is the city dead?” He answered, blowing as before “The new crop grows the old one o’er, This was my pasture evermore!” |
| Five hundred years from yonder day I passed again the selfsame way. A sea I found, the tide was full, A sailor emptied nets with cheer; And when he rested from his pull, I asked how long that sea was here. Then laughed he with a hearty roar “As long as waves have washed this shore They fished here ever in days of yore.” |
| Five hundred years from yonder day I passed again the selfsame way. I found a forest settlement, And o’er his axe, a tree to fell, I saw a man in labor bent. How old this wood I bade him tell. “’Tis everlasting, long before I lived it stood in days of yore,” He quoth; “and shall grow evermore.” |
| Five hundred years from yonder day I passed again the selfsame way. I saw a town; the market-square Was swarming with a noisy throng. “How long,” I asked, “has this town been there? Where are wood and sea and shepherds song?” |
In 1815, he published 'Napoleon, eine politische Komödie in drei Stücken' (Napolean, a Political
Comedy in Three Parts) and in 1817, 'Der Kranz der Zeit' (The Wreath of the Times). For a time, he
worked for a newspaper in Stuttgart and travelled to Rome in 1818. Upon his return, he lived Coburg
for several years. In 1822, he published a collection of poems, Östliche Rosen (Eastern Roses), and in
1834-38, the six volume Gesammelte Gedichte (Collected Poems). He was inspired by August Wilhelm
von Schlegel. By 1826, Ruckert was a master of thirty languages and was appointed professor of
Oriental languages at the University of Erlangen, and then in Berlin in 1841. In 1849, he resigned in
Berlin, and retired to his estate near Coburg. He died January 31,1866.
Comedy in Three Parts) and in 1817, 'Der Kranz der Zeit' (The Wreath of the Times). For a time, he
worked for a newspaper in Stuttgart and travelled to Rome in 1818. Upon his return, he lived Coburg
for several years. In 1822, he published a collection of poems, Östliche Rosen (Eastern Roses), and in
1834-38, the six volume Gesammelte Gedichte (Collected Poems). He was inspired by August Wilhelm
von Schlegel. By 1826, Ruckert was a master of thirty languages and was appointed professor of
Oriental languages at the University of Erlangen, and then in Berlin in 1841. In 1849, he resigned in
Berlin, and retired to his estate near Coburg. He died January 31,1866.
Once famous world-wide, few people outside of Germany would recognize the name today. He was
a prolific author and scholar, but also widely acclaimed as a translator of Oriental poetry and for his
poetry, some of which was created in the spirit of Oriental masters and included love songs and
dramas. His impressive works Die Weisheit des Brahmanen (The Wisdom of the Brahmens) was
published in six volumes in 1836, but he is probably most famous for his 1844 cycle of love songs,
Liebesfrühling (Spring of Love.) Several collections of his numerous poetical translations and original
poems were found after his death and published.
a prolific author and scholar, but also widely acclaimed as a translator of Oriental poetry and for his
poetry, some of which was created in the spirit of Oriental masters and included love songs and
dramas. His impressive works Die Weisheit des Brahmanen (The Wisdom of the Brahmens) was
published in six volumes in 1836, but he is probably most famous for his 1844 cycle of love songs,
Liebesfrühling (Spring of Love.) Several collections of his numerous poetical translations and original
poems were found after his death and published.
Among his Indian translations are complex works such as Nalopakhyana, the Amarusataka, the
Raghuvamsa, and the Gita Govinda. Ruckert's translations of the Gitagovinda and Brahmanische
Erzaehlungen are prized as works of art. Friedrich Rückert was also known for his contribution to the
art of Lieder, and he influenced most of the musicians of his day, including the Schumanns, Brahms
and Schubert, all of whom composed the melodies to his poems. But Rückert was in terrible anguish
when he wrote the 425 Kindertotenlieder. Rückert had married Luise Fischer in 1820, and they had
altogether ten children, of whom only seven outlived their parents. In December of 1833, his only
daughter died of scarlet fever at the age of three, followed sixteen days later by his second youngest
child, a son. Rückert wrote Kindertotenlieder in the six months after their deaths.
Raghuvamsa, and the Gita Govinda. Ruckert's translations of the Gitagovinda and Brahmanische
Erzaehlungen are prized as works of art. Friedrich Rückert was also known for his contribution to the
art of Lieder, and he influenced most of the musicians of his day, including the Schumanns, Brahms
and Schubert, all of whom composed the melodies to his poems. But Rückert was in terrible anguish
when he wrote the 425 Kindertotenlieder. Rückert had married Luise Fischer in 1820, and they had
altogether ten children, of whom only seven outlived their parents. In December of 1833, his only
daughter died of scarlet fever at the age of three, followed sixteen days later by his second youngest
child, a son. Rückert wrote Kindertotenlieder in the six months after their deaths.
| They cried, nor heard among the roar “This town was ever so before, And so will live forevermore!” “Five hundred years from yonder day I want to pass the selfsame way.” |