Dimly sinks the summer evening Over wood and over meadow; And the golden moon shines radiant, Balm diffusing, from the azure. By the brook sings loud the cricket, And the water clear is troubled, And you hear a gentle plashing, A soft breathing through the stillness. By the brook, alone, see yonder, Where doth bathe the lovely Nixie; Arms and bosom, white and dazzling, Gleaming in the moon's pale silver.
Three Songs
Song Cycle by (James) Healey Willan (1880 - 1968)
1. Dimly sinks the summer evening  [sung text checked 1 time]
Authorship:
- Singable translation by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker (1845 - 1904), "Dämmernd liegt der Sommerabend", appears in Poems Selected from Heinrich Heine, ed. by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker, London: Walter Scott, Limited, pages 121-122, first published 1887
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 85
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]1. Dämmernd liegt der Sommerabend  [sung text checked 1 time]
Dämmernd liegt der Sommerabend Über Wald und grünen Wiesen; Goldner Mond, [am]1 blauen Himmel, Strahlt herunter, duftig labend. An dem Bache zirpt die Grille, Und es regt sich in dem Wasser, Und der Wandrer hört ein Plätschern, Und ein Athmen in der Stille. Dorten, an dem Bach alleine, Badet sich die schöne Elfe; Arm und Nacken, weiß und lieblich, Schimmern in dem Mondenscheine.
Authorship:
- by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 85
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- CHI Chinese (中文) [singable] (Dr Huaixing Wang) , copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emma Lazarus) , appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, first published 1881
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , copyright © 2019
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 Brahms, Elling: "im"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
2. Night lies on the silent highways  [sung text checked 1 time]
Night lies on the silent highways, Sick my heart, my limbs how weary; -- Then like gentle balm descendeth, Moon, thy soft light on me dreary. Gentle moon, all dread nocturnal With thy sweet light thou dost banish; And mine eyes with tears well over, And my torments melt and vanish.
Authorship:
- Singable translation by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker (1845 - 1904), "Nacht liegt auf den fremden Wegen", appears in Poems Selected from Heinrich Heine, ed. by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker, London: Walter Scott, Limited, page 122, first published 1887
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, written 1823-1824, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 86, first published 1826
See other settings of this text.
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]2. Nacht liegt auf den fremden Wegen  [sung text checked 1 time]
Nacht liegt auf den fremden Wegen, – Krankes Herz und müde Glieder; – Ach, da fließt, wie stiller Segen, Süßer Mond, dein Licht hernieder. Süßer Mond, mit deinen Strahlen Scheuchest du das nächt’ge Grauen; Es zerrinnen meine Qualen, Und die Augen überthauen.
Authorship:
- by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), no title, written 1823-1824, appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 86, first published 1826
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Night lies on the unfamiliar roads", copyright ©
- ENG English (Emma Lazarus) , appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, first published 1881
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Heinrich Heine, Buch der Lieder, Die Heimkehr, Hamburg, Hoffmann und Campe, 1827, page 256. Modern German would change the spelling of "überthauen" to "übertauen". First included in Rheinische Flora, no. 12
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
3. O Death! thou art the cooling night  [sung text checked 1 time]
O Death! thou art the cooling night; O Life! thou art the sultry day: It darkens, and I slumber -- I am wearied with the light. Over my head is a tree, to my seeming, And in it a nightingale sings; It singeth of nought but love -- I can hear it amidst my dreaming.
Authorship:
- Singable translation by J. Snodgrass , "Der Tod, das ist die kühle Nacht", appears in Poems Selected from Heinrich Heine, ed. by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker, London: Walter Scott, Limited, pages 122-123, first published 1887
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 87, first published 1826/7
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Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]3. Der Tod, das ist die kühle Nacht  [sung text checked 1 time]
Der Tod, das ist die kühle Nacht, Das Leben ist der schwüle Tag. Es dunkelt schon, mich schläfert, Der Tag hat mich müd gemacht. Über mein Bett erhebt sich ein Baum, Drin singt die junge Nachtigall; Sie singt von lauter Liebe - Ich hör es sogar im Traum.
Authorship:
- by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), appears in Buch der Lieder, in Die Heimkehr, no. 87, first published 1826/7
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "Death is the cool night", copyright © 2019
- ENG English (Emma Lazarus) , appears in Poems and Ballads of Heinrich Heine, first published 1881
- ENG English [singable] (Daniel Platt) , "O Death, that is the cooling night", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FIN Finnish (Suomi) (Milla Valkeasuo) , "Kuolema on kylmä yö", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GRE Greek (Ελληνικά) (Ελενη Θεοδωριδου) , "Ο θάνατος είναι η κρύα νύχτα", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- HEB Hebrew (עברית) (Max Mader) , "המוות דומה ללילה הקריר", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , "La morte è una notte fresca", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- LIT Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba) (Giedrius Prunskus) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Sergio Sarano) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Elisa Rapado) , "La muerte es la fría noche", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission