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In the Forum: Musical Discussions
In the Thread: I wish I could speak German!
Post Subject: I wish I could speak German!Posted by Romy the Cat on: 10/8/2009
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With all heritage-inspired hate to German language in my youth (you need to be Russian to understand it) the older I become the more and more I am falling with love with German language and German expressionism. All my adult life   German composers and German writers were the very pinnacle of my interest and admiration. The German writing ironically is a reference to me in Russian language. For instance Thomas Mann’s “Joseph and His Brothers” was translated to Russian by Solomon K. Apt, and this translation to me an absolute reference of Russian prose. There is nothing in Russian literature even remotely close to the Mann’s translation!

So, the last few years I was thinking to learn some German, just to get some very basics. Of cause being adult a pragmatic 42 year old jerk I do not what to invest efforts and I would like to get it “easy”. Perhaps I need to pick a German girlfriend and get German by the “other” means.

Here is the case to point. Lately am listing frequently the Franz Schmidt’s oratorio “Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln”. It is Schmidt’s renderation of the Book of Revelations that in a way inspired my Thomas Mann with his “Doctor Faustus”. The Schmidt’s oratorio is beyond wonderful – it just gives some sub-conscious intellectuals relaxation – it almost like the drugs. How wonderful would it be if I spoke German and might appreciate all of it in original language! I wonder how much efforts would  it take to “get German”?

The Cat

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