”Rondel” is a song written by the English composer Edward Elgar in 1894 as his Op.16, No.3. The words are by Longfellow, a translation of a Rondel 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, 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

References

Banfield, Stephen, Sensibility and English Song: Critical studies of the early 20th century (Cambridge University Press, 1985) ISBN 0-521-37944-X
Kennedy, Michael, Portrait of Elgar (Oxford University Press, 1968) ISBN 0-19-315414-5
Moore, Jerrold N. “Edward Elgar: a creative life” (Oxford University Press, 1984) ISBN 0-19-315447-1

v t e Edward Elgar
List of compositions
Incidental	Diarmuid and Grania (1901) The Crown of India (1911–12) The Starlight Express (1915–16) The Sanguine Fan (1917)
Symphonies	Symphony No. 1 (1907–08) Symphony No. 2 (1909–11) Symphony No. 3 (1932–34; completed by Payne in 1997)
Orchestral	The Wand of Youth (1869–1907) Powick Asylum Music (1879–1884) Sevillana (1884) Froissart (1890) Sursum corda (1894) Serenade for Strings (1894) Three Bavarian Dances (1898) Enigma Variations (1899) Cockaigne Ouverture (1900–01) Pomp and Circumstance Marches (1901–30) Dream Children (1902) Introduction and Allegro (1904–05) In the South (Alassio) (1904–05) Elegy (1909) Falstaff (1913) Sospiri (1914) Carillon (1914) Polonia (1915) Une voix dans le désert (1915) Le drapeau belge (1917) Nursery Suite (1930) The Severn Suite (1930)
Concertante	Violin Concerto (1901–10) Romance (1910) Cello Concerto (1918–19)
Chamber	Duett for trombone and double bass (1887) Idylle (1883) Salut d'Amour (1888) Chanson de Nuit (1897) Chanson de Matin (1899) Violin Sonata (1918) String Quartet (1918) Piano Quintet (1918–19)
Keyboard	Organ Sonata (1898) Concert Allegro (1901)
Choral	The Black Knight (1889–93) From the Bavarian Highlands (1895–96) The Dream of Gerontius (1899–1900) The Kingdom (1901–06) Coronation Ode (1902) The Apostles (1902–03) The Music Makers (1912) The Spirit of England (1915–17)
Vocal	"The Language of Flowers" (1872) "The Self Banished" (1875) "A War Song" (1884) Seven Lieder "Like to the Damask Rose" (1892) "Queen Mary's Song" (1889) "A Song of Autumn" (1892) "The Poet's Life" (1892) "Through the Long Days" (1885) "Rondel" (1894) "The Shepherd's Song" (1892) "Is she not passing fair?" (1886) "As I laye a-thynkynge" (1888) "The Wind at Dawn" (1888) "After" (1900) "A Song of Flight" (1900) Sea Pictures "Sea Slumber Song" "In Haven" "Sabbath Morning at Sea" "Where Corals Lie" "The Swimmer" (1897–99) "Dry those fair, those crystal eyes" (1899) "Always and Everywhere" (1901) "Come, Gentle Night!" (1901) "In the Dawn" (1901) "Speak, Music!" (1901) "There are seven that pull the thread" (1901) "In Moonlight" ((1904) "Follow the Colours" (1907) "Pleading" (1908) "A Child Asleep" (1909) "Oh, soft was the song" (1910) "Was it some Golden Star?" (1910) "Twilight" (1910) "The Chariots of the Lord" (1914) "Fight for Right" (1916) "Inside the Bar" (1917) "The Blue Mountains" (1924) "The Immortal Legions" (1924) Pageant of Empire (1924) "XTC" (1930)
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