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Frisch auf zum fröhlichen Jagen, Ihr Jäger, auf zur Pirsch! Wir woll'n den Hirsch erjagen, Den edlen roten Hirsch: Der Tag steigt auf in Frische, Der Hirsch kehrt heim vom Feld; Frisch auf denn ans Gebüsche, Wo er den Wechsel hält. Gott gab uns diese Erde Mit Allem, was darauf. Er lehrt' uns Wildesfährte, Schenkt' uns den Büchsenlauf, Und gab uns klare Augen, Und feste Hand dazu. -- Nun sprecht, was soll das taugen, Verblieb's in träger Ruh'? Er gab uns Sonne und Regen, Und Mut ins Herz hinein, Der Wind muß sich bewegen, Die Vögel müssen schrei'n, Das Jahr muß kommen und schwinden Und alles hat sein Muß -- Das Alles zu verbinden Braucht's Jägers Gruß und Schuß! Der Wald verfiel' ins Schlafen, Das Wild verdürbe träg, Die Hirsche würden zu Schafen, Es schwände Weg und Steg; Gäb's nicht mehr lustige Jäger, Und lustigen Büchsenknall, Des Waldes und Wildes Beweger Mit Pfeifen- und Hörnerschall. Drum auf, es lebe das Jagen, Dies stete Gewitter der Welt! Die Traurigen mögen sich plagen, Der Filz mag trachten nach Geld! Wir trachten am Abend und Morgen Nach rüst'gen Taten hinaus; Weib, Kinder, Schulden und Sorgen Behüte der Himmel zu Haus.
R. Schumann sets stanzas 1-3, 5
Note: an adapted form of the first stanza is also used in Schumann's Der alte König zog zu Wald.
Authorship:
- by Heinrich Laube (1806 - 1884), "Zur hohen Jagd", appears in Jagdbrevier, in 4. Winter [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 Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856), "Zur hohen Jagd", op. posth. 137 no. 1 (1849), published 1857, stanzas 1-3,5 [ men's chorus ], from Jagdlieder : Fünf Gesänge aus H. Laubes "Jagdbrevier", no. 1, Winterthur, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "A la noble cacera", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Voor de hoge jacht", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "On to the High Chase", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Sur la chasse noble", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-10-05
Line count: 40
Word count: 195
Off cheerily to the merry hunt, Ye huntsmen, off to the deer-stalking! We want to hunt down the deer, The noble red stag: The day dawns in freshness, The stag returns from the field; Off cheerily into the bushes, To his habitual feeding track! God gave us this earth With everything that is upon it. He taught us how to track the game, Gave us muskets, And gave us clear eyes, And steady hands as well. -- Now tell, of what use would they be If they remained in lethargic repose? He gave us sun and rain, And courage in our hearts, Winds must blow, Birds must scream, The seasons of the year must come and go And everything has its law -- To unify it all A huntsman's greeting and shot is required! The forest would fall asleep, The wild game would be spoiled by indolence, The deer would become sheep, Path and track would vanish; If there were no cheery huntsmen, And the merry crack of the muskets, Which stir up the forest and the game With the sounds of whistles and horns. So onward, long live the hunt, The constant thunderstorm of the world! Sad folk may toil and moil, Fools may strive for money! Evening and morning we endeavour To perform lusty deeds; Wife, children, debts, and anxieties May heaven preserve at home.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Laube (1806 - 1884), "Zur hohen Jagd", appears in Jagdbrevier, in 4. Winter
This text was added to the website: 2009-10-06
Line count: 40
Word count: 225