H149

Suleika und Hatem

This is one of Fanny Hensel’s accompanied duets for soprano and tenor, composed in 1825 and based on text by Goethe. This work was initially published in Felix Mendelssohn’s opus 8, with no mention that three of the 12 songs in that opus were composed by Fanny. From Todd’s biography:

…when reviewer A.B. Marx reviewed the publication… he pointedly suggested that Suleika und Hatem captured a form of love so pure that one might be tempted to label the lied wieblich (feminine) “if one did not know the composer, if there were female composers, and if ladies could absorb such profound music.”

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HenselPushers edition notes:

• This work appears in MA Ms. 35.

• This work was initially published as one of Felix Mendelssohn’s songs, as the last of 12 in his opus 8.

Text:

Suleika:
An des lust’gen Brunnens Rand,
Der in Wasserfäden spielt,
Wußt ich nicht, was fest mich hielt;
Doch da war von deiner Hand
Meine Chiffer leis gezogen,
Niederblickt ich, dir gewogen.

Hier, zu Ende des Canals
Der gereihten Hauptallee,
Blick ich wieder in die Höh,
Und da seh ich abermals
Meine Lettern fein gezogen:
Bleibe! bleibe mir gewogen!

Hatem:
Möge Wasser springend, wallend
Die Cypressen dir gestehn:
Von Suleika, zu Suleika,
Ist mein Kommen und mein Gehn.