ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses seven songs from Walter Scott's The Lady of the Lake. They are Ellens Gesang I: Raste Krieger (Ellen's Song I: Rest, warrior), Ellens Gesang II: Jager, ruhe (Ellen's Song II: Huntsman, rest), Bootgesang (Boat Song), Coronach, Normans Gesang (Norman's Song), Ellens Gesang III: Ave Maria (Ellen's Song III: Ave Maria), and Lied des gefangenen Jagers (Song of the Imprisoned Huntsman). Scott published the poem in 1810 and the German translation by Adam Storck came out in 1819. Scott was regarded as one of the foremost Romantics of the day, and his influence on music as well as literature was far-reaching. Scott's poem was read not only for its story; its greatest appeal lay in its descriptions of the Scottish Highlands. Scott was considered to be second to none for his 'objective scene painting' as it was called.