ICH GROLLE NICHT
Robert Schumann’s song Ich grolle nicht, Op. 48, No. 7, represents a masterpiece within the framework of his Dichterliebe song cycle. The texts for the song cycle come from the poet Heinrich Heine. The poem is about repressed anger. The lyric speaker says “I won’t complain,” but you sense that he is actually quite bitter. Schumann famously amplifies that bitterness with his driving, pulsating piano accompaniment. Through a sarcastic tone, the poem expresses the agony and ecstasy of love while the music depicts the indescribable facets of love that reach beyond words. My Ich grolle nicht Remix, grasp the repressed anger expressed in the original musical setting, attempting to magnify the sarcastic tone through exaggerated multiple voices and repetitions. One might even go as far as to say that the anger is so repressed its visceral emotion leaks through one’s teeth.
I use two Blue Air infrared controllers to provide independent streams of data control. The Blue Air controllers create data streams by measuring the distance between my hands and the controllers. The Blue Air controllers then output MIDI data that correspond to that distance. One interaction I have with the Blue Air interfaces is the “press” and “release” performance motions, which metaphorically represent the sarcastic tone and anger as if expressed through the teeth. I use this control data to shape the modification processes applied to the performance recordings of the original Schumann song.
The performance recording of Schumann’s original setting is by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, baritone and Alfred Brendel, piano. Additional voice recordings are generously provided by Dr. Stephen Rodgers. The original German text and its English translation are provided below.
Ich grolle nicht, und wenn das Herz auch bricht, I bear no grudge, even as my heart is breaking,
ewig verlor’nes Lieb! Ich grolle nicht. eternally lost Love! I bear no grudge.
Wie du auch strahlst in Diamantenpracht, Even though you shine in diamond splendor,
es fällt kein Strahl in deines Herzens Nacht, there falls no light into your heart’s night,
das weiß ich längst. that I’ve known for a long time.
Ich grolle nicht, und wenn das Herz auch bricht. I bear no grudge, even as my heart is breaking.
Ich sah dich ja im Traume, I saw you, truly, in my dream,
und sah die Nacht in deines Herzens Raume, and saw the night in your heart’s cavity,
und sah die Schlang’, die dir am Herzen frißt, and saw the serpent that feeds on your heart,
ich sah, mein Lieb, wie sehr du elend bist. I saw, my love, how very miserable you are.
Ich grolle nicht. I bear no grudge.