Ein Jüngling liebt ein Mädchen

Robert Schumann’s Ein Jüngling liebt ein Mädchen captures the poignant irony of unrequited love, a theme familiar in German Lieder. The text tells a story of romantic misadventure: a young man loves a girl who chooses another, who in turn loves and marries a different woman. The girl, in a fit of pique, marries the first man she encounters, leaving the young man heartbroken. Schumann’s setting of this 'old story' which 'always remains new' is for three-part choir (SAB). The piece reflects the cyclical and often painful nature of love and loss, a sentiment that resonates universally despite its specific narrative.