Little birds in the birch tree

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by Gustav Kastropp (1844 - 1925)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Vöglein im Birkenbaum

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

Vöglein im Birkenbaum
Singen hell,
Wellen mit weißem Schaum
Springen schnell,
Springen den Berg hinab
Sonder Ruh,
Tanzen dem Meeresgrab
Fröhlich zu,
Glitzern im Sonnenglanz
Silberlicht,
Wirbeln im tollen Tanz,
Rasten nicht.

So mit euch fliehn geschwind,
Welch ein Glück,--
Hieltest du süßes Kind
Mich nicht zurück!

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Gustav Kastropp, König Elf’s Lieder. Eine lyrische Rhapsodie, Zweite Auflage, Stuttgart: Verlag von Adolf Bonz & Comp., 1877, pages 20-21

Text Authorship:

by Gustav Kastropp (1844 - 1925), no title, appears in König Elfs Lieder, in 1. Erster Teil. Rosenzeit, no. 15, first published 1875 [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 Eugen Haile (1873 - 1933), "Vöglein im Birkenbaum singen hell", op. 10 (Fünf Lieder und Gesänge für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 5, published 1900 [ high voice and piano ], Stuttgart, Ebner [sung text not yet checked]
by Max Stange (1856 - 1932), "Vöglein im Birkenbaum singen hell", op. 42 (Vier Lieder für 1 Stimme mit Pianoforte) no. 4, published 1895 [ voice and piano ], Berlin, Raabe & Plothow [sung text not yet checked]
by Felix Paul Weingartner (1863 - 1942), "Vöglein im Birkenbaum", published 1885 [ voice and piano ], from Zwei Gedichte für 1 Singstimme mit Pianofortebegleitung, no. 2, Kassel, Voigt [sung text not yet checked]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2010-03-25
Line count: 16
Word count: 47

Little birds in the birch tree

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Little birds in the birch tree
Sing brightly,
Waves with their white foam
Leap rapidly,
Leap down the mountain
Without rest,
Dance joyfully toward the
Ocean-grave,
Sparkle in the sunshine
With silvery light,
Whirl in a mad dance,
Do not rest.

Thus to fly rapidly with you --
What joy, --
If you sweet child did not
Hold me back!

About the headline (FAQ)

Translations of title(s):
"Vöglein im Birkenbaum" = "Little birds in the birch tree"
"Vöglein im Birkenbaum singen hell" = "Little birds in the birch tree sing brightly"

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2017 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 Gustav Kastropp (1844 - 1925), no title, appears in König Elfs Lieder, in 1. Erster Teil. Rosenzeit, no. 15, first published 1875
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2017-06-08
Line count: 16
Word count: 58