This edition was prepared by Nikolaus Hold — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Hirtenlied, Op. 88, No. 3
Staff Notation • Secular, Partsongs
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2 editions of this piece
Different typesettings and voicings of the same work. This page shows the main edition; the others are below.
SATB · Stuart McIntosh
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Hirtenlied, Op. 88, No. 3 by Felix Mendelssohn — Lyrics
O Winter, schlimmer Winter, wie ist die Welt so klein!
Du drängst uns all' in die Täler, in die engen Hütten hinein.
Und geh' ich auch vorüber an meiner Liebsten Haus,
kaum sieht sie mit dem Köpfchen zum kleinen Fenster heraus.
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About Hirtenlied, Op. 88, No. 3
Felix Mendelssohn's Hirtenlied paints a stark contrast between the confining hardships of winter and the boundless joys of summer. The German text describes how winter forces people into cramped dwellings, while the warmth of summer invites expansion and freedom, symbolized by climbing mountains. This secular SATB part-song captures these shifting moods, moving from the isolation of the cold season to the exhilaration of a shared, expansive summer landscape. The music reflects this journey, offering a rich yet accessible choral experience that explores themes of nature, love, and the changing seasons. It is a fine example of Mendelssohn's skill in setting evocative poetry for unaccompanied voices.
