Totius (1877–1953)

Abstract This chapter contains a newly crafted English translation and International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription of a poem by highly regarded prolific poet, academic, and translator of much of the Bible into Afrikaans, Totius, pseudonym of Jacob Daniël du Toit. “The Gardener” was set to music by the first acknowledged composer of the Afrikaans art song, concert pianist Bosman di Ravelli (also known as Jan Hugo Gysbert Bosman). It is the first song in di Ravelli’s song cycle “Three Songs” and is scored for medium voice. The subject matter of the poetry is reminiscent of Franz Schubert’s Heidenröslein by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, published in 1789. Other songs in the cycle include the poems “Winter Night” by poet Eugène Marais and “The Little Country Breeze” by Jan Celliers. Topics include love and nature.