”Rondel” is a song written by the English composer Edward Elgar

Edward Elgar

Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...

 in 1894 as his Op.16, No.3. The words are by Longfellow

Longfellow

Longfellow may refer to:* Longfellow, Minneapolis, United States** Longfellow , Minneapolis, United States* Longfellow, Oakland, California, United States* Longfellow , one of America's first great thoroughbred racehorses...

, a translation of a Rondel

Rondel

Rondel may refer to:* Rondel or roundel, type of medieval dagger...

 by Froissart. The manuscript is dated 4 January 1894.

The song was first performed by Charles Phillips in St. James's Hall on 7 December 1897.

The song was first published in 1896, by Ascherberg. It was re-published in 1907 as one of the Seven Lieder of Edward Elgar

Seven Lieder of Edward Elgar

The Seven Lieder of Edward Elgar is a set of songs by the English composer Edward Elgar published together in 1907, by Ascherberg, Hopwood & Crew Ltd.The set was published with German words 'by Ed...

, with English and German words.

Lyrics

German words by Ed. Sachs.

English RONDEL Love, what wilt thou with this heart, this heart of mine? Nought see I sure or fixed in thee! I do not know thee, nor what deeds are thine: Love, what wilt thou with this heart, this heart of mine? Nought see I fixed or sure in thee! Nought see I fixed or sure in thee! Shall I be mute, or vows with prayers combine? Ye who are blessed in loving, tell it me: Love, what wilt thou with this heart, this heart of mine? Nought see I permanent or sure in thee, Nought see I permanent or sure in thee: Love, Love, what wilt thou with this heart of mine? .

German RONDEL Lieb', Lieb', was willst du Mit dem Herz, dem Herzen mein? Nicht kenn' ich dich, Noch dein Begehr! Nichts scheint mir fest in dir, Noch klar zu sein: Lieb', was willst du Mit dem Herz, dem Herzen mein? Nicht kenn' ich dich, Noch dein Begehr! Nicht kenn' ich dich Noch dein Begehr! Bleibe ich stumm, soll liebevoll ich sein? Ihr, die ihr liebt, Lasst mich nicht zweifeln mehr: Lieb', was willst du Mit dem Herz, dem Herzen mein? Nicht kenn' ich standhaft dich, Noch dein Begehr, Nicht kenn' ich standhaft dich, Noch dein Begehr, Lieb', Lieb', Was willst du mit dem Herzen mein?

Elgar reversed the positions of "sure" and "fixed" in the second line

Recordings

• Songs and Piano Music by Edward Elgar has "Rondel" performed by Mark Wilde (tenor), with David Owen Norris (piano).
• The Songs of Edward Elgar SOMM CD 220 Neil Mackie (tenor) with Malcolm Martineau (piano), at Southlands College, London, April 1999