Listening Guide
The Work
Key: C major.
Tempo: Innig, fliessend (tender, flowing) (fliessend does not appear in the orchestral score)
Time Signature: 3/4 with numerous changes.
Form: simple strophic form
Orchestration: According to the original orchestral score, published by C. F. Kahnt, this song was not orchestrated by Mahler, but by an employee of the publisher, Max Puttmann. Many commentators have criticized the orchestration as flawed in details that Mahler would not have missed.
| Liebst du um Schönheit, o nicht mich liebe! Liebe die Sonne, sie trägt ein goldnes Haar!
Liebst du um Jugend, Liebst du um Schätze, Liebst du um Liebe, | If you love for beauty’s sake do not love me! Love the sun, it wears hair of gold.
If you love for youth’s sake, If you love for treasure’s sake, If you love for love’s sake, |
Ich find den Spruch supii 🙂