"Zueignung" (translated as "Dedication" or "Devotion") is a Lied composed by Richard Strauss in 1885 (completed 13 August), setting a poem by the Austrian poet Hermann von Gilm.
In 1882, his friend Ludwig Thuile introduced Strauss to the poetry of Gilm contained in the volume Letzte Blätter (last leaves), published in the year of the poet's death (and the composer's birth) 1864.
[1] The Strauss orchestration was premiered at Rome on 4 July 1940 with Ursulaec singing and her husband Clemens Krauss conducting.
Strauss recorded the song three times with himself on the piano; in 1919 with the baritone Heinrich Schlusnus and twice in 1942 from Vienna for wartime radio broadcasts with soprano Maria Reining and tenor Anton Dermota.
[7] Ja, du weißt es, teure Seele, Daß ich fern von dir mich quäle, Liebe macht die Herzen krank, Habe Dank.
Ah, thou know'st, sweet, all mine anguish, In thine absence, how I languish Love brings sorrow to the heart!
Thou didst lay those wanton spirits; Comfort, peace my soul inherits, Joy and bliss shall thy love impart.