GERMAN LANGUAGE SET
Asmus Omnia sua secum portans, oder Sämtliche Werke des Wandsbecker Bothen.
Published by Christian Gottlieb Schmieder, Carlsruhe, Germany, 1784- 1790. Original German language books. 5 Parts in 4 volumes. Very good hardcovers, clothbound with leather titling and vellum numbering to spines. Tight bindings, solid spines, previous owner’s signature to front endpapers, clean unmarked texts, some cover wear to edges & foxing (see photos). Illustrated. Small 12mo, approx 4-⅜” x 7” each; xvi, 232; x, 198; vi, 264; viii, 224. Sound, attractive set. (books only - bookends are not included, they are only for photo purposes)
MATTHIAS CLAUDIUS (1740-1815), German poet, otherwise known by the nom de plume of Asmus, was born on the 15th of August 1740 at Reinfeld, near Lubeck, and studied at Jena. He spent the greater part of his life in the little town of Wandsbeck, near Hamburg, where he earned his first literary reputation by editing from 1771 to 1775, a newspaper called the Wandsbecker Bote (Wandsbeck Messenger), in which he published a large number of prose essays and poems. They were written in pure and simple German, and appealed to the popular taste; in many there was a vein of extravagant humour or even burlesque, while others were full of quiet meditation and solemn sentiment. In his later days, perhaps through the influence of Klopstock, with whom he had formed an intimate acquaintance, Claudius became strongly pietistic, and the graver side of his nature showed itself. In 1814 he removed to Hamburg, to the house of his son-in-law, the publisher Friedrich Christoph Perthes, where he died on the 21st of January 1815.
This is a beautifully printed and illustrated work that contains many famous pieces, including his most famous & influential poem “Death and the Maiden” (Der Tod und das Mädchen), which was used by composer Franz Schubert in 1817 for one of his most celebrated songs, a gorgeous “lied”. The word “lied” is a German term originally used to describe the fusion of poetry and music, or more specifically the practice of German-speaking composers setting Romantic German poems to music. “Der Tod und das Mädchen” is set for voice and piano, with the text derived from Claudius’ poem. It became one of Schubert’s most acclaimed pieces, and was the basis for his string quartet of the same name.
Loc: E7
GERMAN LANGUAGE SET
Asmus Omnia sua secum portans, oder Sämtliche Werke des Wandsbecker Bothen.
Published by Christian Gottlieb Schmieder, Carlsruhe, Germany, 1784- 1790. Original German language books. 5 Parts in 4 volumes. Very good hardcovers, clothbound with leather titling and vellum numbering to spines. Tight bindings, solid spines, previous owner’s signature to front endpapers, clean unmarked texts, some cover wear to edges & foxing (see photos). Illustrated. Small 12mo, approx 4-⅜” x 7” each; xvi, 232; x, 198; vi, 264; viii, 224. Sound, attractive set. (books only - bookends are not included, they are only for photo purposes)
MATTHIAS CLAUDIUS (1740-1815), German poet, otherwise known by the nom de plume of Asmus, was born on the 15th of August 1740 at Reinfeld, near Lubeck, and studied at Jena. He spent the greater part of his life in the little town of Wandsbeck, near Hamburg, where he earned his first literary reputation by editing from 1771 to 1775, a newspaper called the Wandsbecker Bote (Wandsbeck Messenger), in which he published a large number of prose essays and poems. They were written in pure and simple German, and appealed to the popular taste; in many there was a vein of extravagant humour or even burlesque, while others were full of quiet meditation and solemn sentiment. In his later days, perhaps through the influence of Klopstock, with whom he had formed an intimate acquaintance, Claudius became strongly pietistic, and the graver side of his nature showed itself. In 1814 he removed to Hamburg, to the house of his son-in-law, the publisher Friedrich Christoph Perthes, where he died on the 21st of January 1815.
This is a beautifully printed and illustrated work that contains many famous pieces, including his most famous & influential poem “Death and the Maiden” (Der Tod und das Mädchen), which was used by composer Franz Schubert in 1817 for one of his most celebrated songs, a gorgeous “lied”. The word “lied” is a German term originally used to describe the fusion of poetry and music, or more specifically the practice of German-speaking composers setting Romantic German poems to music. “Der Tod und das Mädchen” is set for voice and piano, with the text derived from Claudius’ poem. It became one of Schubert’s most acclaimed pieces, and was the basis for his string quartet of the same name.
Loc: E7
