Cantata for my father's name day
(Poet's title: Zur Namenfeier meines Vaters)
Set by Schubert:
D 80
for TTB trio with guitar[September 27, 1813]
Ertöne Leier
Zur Festesfeier!
Apollo steig hernieder,
Begeistre unsre Lieder!
Lange lebe unser Vater Franz!
Lange währe seiner Tage Chor!
Und im ewig schönen Flor
Blühe seines Lebens Kranz.
Wonnelachend umschwebe die Freude
Seines grünenden Glückes Lauf.
Immer getrennt vom trauernden Leide,
Nehm ihn Elysiums Schatten auf.
Endlos wieder töne, holde Leier,
Bringt des Jahres Raum die Zeit zurück,
Sanft und schön an dieser Festesfeier.
Ewig währe Vater Franzens Glück!
Ring out, lyre,
For this festive event!
Apollo, come down and
Inspire our songs.
Long live our father Franz!
Long may his chorus of days continue!
And in eternal beautiful flowering
May his life’s wreath blossom!
Laughing with happiness may joy surround
His ever greener course of fate.
Forever separated from sad pain,
Take him up to Elysium’s shades.
Ring out again endlessly, lovely lyre,
Bring this time of year round again
Gently and beautifully to this festive event.
May father Franz’s happiness continue forever!
All translations into English that appear on this website, unless otherwise stated, are by Malcolm Wren. You are free to use them on condition that you acknowledge Malcolm Wren as the translator and schubertsong.uk as the source. Unless otherwise stated, the comments and essays that appear after the texts and translations are by Malcolm Wren and are © Copyright.
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Themes and images in this text:
Apollo / Phoebus Banquets and feasts Elysium Father and child Flowers Green Joy Lyres Songs (general) Songs for special occasions
In the Catholic countries of central Europe the name-day, i.e. the day of the saint after whom a person is named, is celebrated more than the birthday. The name-day of Schubert’s father (and his own) was 4th October.
O.E. Deutsch, Schubert. A Documentary Biography English translation by Eric Blom, London 1946 page 38
Franz Schubert the elder had recently re-married. His first wife (the composer’s mother) had died in May 1812.
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Original Spelling Terzetto Ertöne Leyer Zur Festesfeyer! Apollo steig hernieder, Begeistre unsre Lieder! Lange lebe unser Vater Franz! Lange währe seiner Tage Chor! Und im ewig schönen Flor Blühe seines Lebens Kranz. Wonnelachend umschwebe die Freude Seines grünenden Glückes Lauf. Immer getrennt vom trauernden Leide, Nehm' ihn Elysiums Schatten auf. Endlos wieder töne, holde Leyer, Bringt des Jahres Raum die Zeit zurück, Sanft und schön an dieser Festesfeyer. Ewig währe Vater Franzens Glück!
Confirmed by Peter Rastl with Schubert’s autograph (clean copy), Vienna City Library, call number MH 53.
The manuscript has the title “Terzetto” and the concluding comment “Auf die Nahmensfeyer meines Vaters!!!”