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Kling leise, mein Lied, durch die schweigende Nacht, Kling leise, daß nicht die [Geliebte]1 erwacht! Behutsam zu ihren Fenstern hinauf, Kling leise, mein Lied, und wecke sie nicht auf!2 Ihr Schlummer ist heilig und heilig ihr Traum, Du küsse nur leicht des Gewandes Saum, Das lüstern um ihre Glieder sich schmiegt, Verhüllend den Busen, der stürmisch sich wiegt. [Ihr]3 Schlummer ist heilig, o wecke sie nicht! Und heilig ihr Traum, o schrecke sie nicht Mit einem Gebilde, das traurig und wild! Kling leise, mein Lied, sing leise und mild! Umschlinge sie sanft, wie die Ranke den Baum In Liebe umschlingt mit dem Blütentraum, Und singe verzückt, wie die Nachtigall singt, Die der Rose ein klingendes Ständchen bringt. Erwecke sie nicht mit zu stürmischem Gruß, Tritt behutsam nur auf, wie des Pilgers Fuß Hin durch den heiligen Tempel geht, Still klinge dein Gruß, wie ein leises Gebet!4
F. Liszt sets stanzas 1, 4-5 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)Note: some lines of this poem were used in Zanettovich's Lied (mond - nacht - liebes - traum - lied)
1 Liszt's first version: " Geliebt' "2 in Liszt's second version, he adds here: "Kling leise mein Lied, kling leise und sacht/ Dass die Geliebte nicht erwacht." In some versions of the score, "sacht" is replaced with "mild" (even though it doesn't rhyme).
3 Liszt's first version: "Ach! Ihr"
4 Liszt's first version ends with the following:
Kling leise, mein Lied, durch die schweigende Nacht, Kling leise, daß nicht die Geliebt' erwacht! Behutsam zu ihren Fenstern hinauf, Kling leise, mein Lied, Behutsam zu ihren Fenstern hinauf, Leise und mild, Daß nicht die Geliebte erwacht! Daß nicht die Geliebte erwacht! O, wecke sie nicht!In Liszt's second version the text appended to the end is as follows:
Kling leise, mein Lied, durch die schweigende Nacht, Kling leise, daß nicht die Geliebte erwacht! Behutsam zu ihren Fenstern hinauf, Kling leise, mein Lied, Behutsam zu ihren Fenstern hinauf, Leise und mild, Daß nicht die Geliebte erwacht! Daß nicht die Geliebte erwacht! O, wecke sie nicht!
Authorship:
- by Johann Rumpelmeyer (1820 - 1887), as Johannes Nordmann [author's text not yet checked 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 Franz (Ferenc) Liszt (1811 - 1886), "Kling leise, mein Lied", S. 301 no. 1 (1848), published 1860 [ voice and piano ], first version [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Franz (Ferenc) Liszt (1811 - 1886), "Kling leise, mein Lied, durch die schweigende Nacht", S. 301 no. 2 (1848), published 1860, stanzas 1,4-5 [ voice and piano ], second version (although there is a book that claims this setting was composed in 1839) [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English [singable] (David Paley) , "Sound softly, my song", copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English [singable] (Charles Fonteyn Manney) , "Breathe gently, my song", first published 1911 [an adaptation]
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Résonne doucement, mon chant", copyright © 2012, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 146
Sound softly, my song, through the silence of night, Sound softly or else my beloved will wake. Carefully, up to her windows arise Sound softly, my song, or repose will awake. As slumber is sacred and sacred her dream, Drop kisses so light on her garment hem That nestles around her wrapping her limbs And clings to her bosom that rises and falls. Her slumber is sacred, awaken her not And sacred her dream, O, frighten her not With such an appearance both saddened and wild. Sound softly, my song, sing softly and mild. Embrace her as soft as the climbers round trees That lovers entwine in blossoming dreams; And sing with delight as the nightingales sing When to roses a serenade they would bring. Awaken her not with too stormy salute. Step carefully to her as if pilgrims feet Tread through the holiest temple there, And quietly greet with the murmur of prayer.
Authorship:
- Singable translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2011 by David Paley, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.
David Paley.  Contact: davidpaley (AT) btinternet (DOT) com
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Johann Rumpelmeyer (1820 - 1887), as Johannes Nordmann
This text was added to the website: 2011-02-02
Line count: 20
Word count: 154