Ex. 4-4: The Wanderer

The Wanderer is the second of six songs that Haydn wrote to English words during his second visit to London, in 1794–95, when he was 62. The six songs were printed in London in 1795.

The words are by Anne Hunter (1742–1821), a Scottish poet who lived in London. Her husband, John Hunter, was one of the most famous doctors of his time, and at their home she often invited writers, artists and musicians. Haydn met the Hunters on his first visit to London, in 1791–92, and he wrote six songs to her poems.

In the poem, someone walks alone at night. The moon gives only a little light, and birds call in the dark. The walker says that this is no place for happy people, and asks a sad woman to come here. Here she can cry and think about the past, with nothing to hope for and nothing to fear.

Haydn left London in August 1795 and never came back. Anne Hunter wrote a poem to say goodbye to him, O Tuneful Voice, and Haydn wrote music to it.

Track 10 from the album Haydn: Lieder by Elly Ameling and Jörg Demus (1981)
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