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Tanzt dem schönen May entgegen, Der des Waldes Haar verneut, Roth und weiße Farbenbögen Auf des Fruchtbaums Wipfel streut, Mit dem goldverbrämten Schleier, Wartende Gefilde deckt! Singt ihm Hymnen in die Leyer, Der den Schlaf der Freude weckt! Tanzt daher, am Arm der Schöne, Der ein treuer Busen fröhnt, Menget Lieder ins Getöne, Das die Morgenglocke tönt, Ins Geschwirr der Espenblätter, Und erweckt den Wiederklang! Er, der Freund der Liebesgötter, Heischet Opfer und Gesang. Bringet ihm in grünen Schatten, Eure Frühlingsopfer dar, Junge neuvermählte Gatten, Auf der Liebe Festaltar: Küße, wenn des Hahns Drommete Das umbüschte Dörfchen weckt, Küße, wenn die Abendröthe Jeden Baum mit Purpur deckt. Flieht, ihr schönen Städterinnen, Eurer Städte goldne Kluft, Eurer Kerker hohe Zinnen, Trinket frische Mayenluft! Irrt, mit eurem Sonnenhütgen, Auf die Frühlingsflur hinaus! Singt ein frölich Mayenliedgen, Pflücket einen Busenstraus! Schmückt mit Kirschenblüthenzweigen Euren grünen Sonnenhut, Schürzt das Röckchen, tanzet Reigen, Wie die Schäferjugend thut! Gaukelt in der Kirschenblüthe, Zephyrn, eure Flügel matt, Haucht auf ihre Sonnenhüte Manches weiße Blüthenblatt.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Almanach der deutschen Musen auf das Jahr 1773, Leipzig: in der Schwickertschen Buchhandlung, 1773, pages 121-122.
Authorship:
- by Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776), "Maylied" [author's text checked 2 times 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 Oskar Bolck (1837 - 1888), "Mailied", op. 1 (Sechs Lieder) no. 3, published 1861 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Katzsch [sung text not yet checked]
- by Reinhold Finsterbusch , "Tanzliedchen im Mai", op. 16 (Vier Lieder für gemischten Chor) no. 4, published 1890 [ mixed chorus ], Leipzig, Kistner [sung text not yet checked]
- by Johann Christian Rötsch (d. 1834), "Mailied", published 1810 [ voice and guitar ], from Zwölf Lieder mit Begleitung der Guitarre von J. Chr. Rötsch, Souffleur am Herzogl. S. Weimarischen Hoftheater, no. 8 [sung text not yet checked]
Set in a modified version by Josephine Lang, Max Meyer-Olbersleben, Johann Xaver Sterkel.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2010-12-05
Line count: 40
Word count: 167
Dance to greet beautiful May, Which renews the hair of the forest, Which strews red and white arches of colour Upon the tops of the fruit trees, Which, with the gold-bordered veil, Covers the waiting meadows! Sing hymns into the lyre of May, Which wakens joy from sleep! Dance along upon the arm of beauty, To which a faithful bosom is enslaved, Blend songs into the resounding Of the morning bell, Into the rustling of the aspen leaves, And awaken the echoes! [May], the friend of the gods of love, Demands sacrifices and singing. In the green shadows bring to May Your springtime offerings, Young, newly married spouses, Upon the festive altar of love: Kisses when the rooster’s trumpet Wakens the bush-enshrouded village, Kisses when the glow of sunset Covers every tree with crimson. Flee, ye lovely city girls, From your city's golden chasms, From your prisons’ high parapets, Drink in the fresh May air! In your sun-hats wander out Into the springtime meadow! Sing a joyful May-song, Pick a posy for your bosom! Adorn your green sun-hat With cherry-blossom sprays, Tie up your skirts, dance roundelays, As the youthful shepherd-folk do! Zephyrs in the cherry blossoms, Flutter your wings until they are fatigued, Waft many a white petal Down upon their sun-hats.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Mailied" = "May song"
"Maylied" = "May song"
"Tanzliedchen im Mai" = "Little dancing song in May"
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 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 Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748 - 1776), "Maylied"
This text was added to the website: 2022-05-15
Line count: 40
Word count: 213