by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
Translation by Emma Lazarus (1849 - 1887)
Abenddämmerung
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): FRE
Am blassen Meeresstrande Saß ich gedankenbekümmert und einsam. Die Sonne neigte sich tiefer, und warf Glührote Streifen auf das Wasser, Und die weißen, weiten Wellen, Von der Flut gedrängt, Schäumten und rauschten näher und näher - Ein seltsam Geräusch, ein Flüstern und Pfeifen, Ein Lachen und Murmeln, Seufzen und Sausen, Dazwischen ein wiegenliedheimliches Singen - Mir war, als hört ich verschollne Sagen, Uralte, liebliche Märchen, Die ich einst, als Knabe, Von Nachbarskindern vernahm, Wenn wir am Sommerabend, Auf den Treppensteinen der Haustür, Zum stillen Erzählen niederkauerten, Mit kleinen horchenden Herzen Und neugierklugen Augen; - Während die großen Mädchen, Neben duftenden Blumentöpfen, Gegenüber am Fenster saßen, Rosengesichter, Lächelnd und mondbeglänzt.
Authorship:
- by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), "Abenddämmerung", appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Nordsee, in Erster Zyklus, no. 2 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ennio Morricone (1928 - 2020), "Abenddämmerung", 2000 [ soprano with violin, violoncello and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Robert de Roos (1907 - 1976), "Abenddämmerung", published 1975 [ soprano and orchestra ], from Drei romantische Lieder (H. Heine), no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Max von Schillings (1868 - 1933), "Abenddämmerung", op. 1a, published 1891 [ medium voice with violin and piano ], München, Seiling [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Emma Lazarus) , "Twilight", appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, first published 1881
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "Crépuscule du soir", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2007-10-15
Line count: 24
Word count: 109
Twilight
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
On the wan shore of the sea Lonely I sat with troubled thoughts. The sun dropped lower, and cast Glowing red streaks on the water. And the white wide waves, Crowding in with the tide, Foamed and rustled, nearer and nearer, With a strange rustling, a whispering, a hussing, A laughter, a murmur, a sighing, a seething, And amidst all these a mysterious lullaby. I seemed to hear long-past traditions, Lovely old-time fairy-tales, Which as a boy I had heard, From the neighbor's children, When on summer evenings we had nestled On the stone steps of the porch. With little eager hearts, And wistful cunning eyes, Whilst the grown maidens Sat opposite at their windows Near their sweet-smelling flower pots, With their rosy faces, Smiling and beaming in the moonlight.
Authorship:
- by Emma Lazarus (1849 - 1887), "Twilight", appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, first published 1881 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), "Abenddämmerung", appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Nordsee, in Erster Zyklus, no. 2
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-05-05
Line count: 23
Word count: 131