Ex. 9-6: Waldfahrt

No. 3 of Robert Franz's 6 Gesänge (Six Songs, Op. 14), published in 1851 by the Leipzig firm Kistner. The poem, by Theodor Körner, describes a fresh forest scene — the woods are green and full of birdsong, "a kingdom of love."

Körner (1791–1813) was both a poet and a soldier. He joined the Lützow Free Corps in the German fight against Napoleon, and wrote patriotic poems for his fellow soldiers — often singing them to his own guitar. His father later published these poems as Leyer und Schwert (Lyre and Sword). In 1813, Körner was killed in fighting in a forest, at the age of 21, and was buried under an oak tree.

From the album Robert Franz: Lieder by Robin Tritschler and Graham Johnson (2017)
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