Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Geh unter, schöne Sonne, sie achteten Nur wenig dein, sie kannten dich, Heilge, nicht. Denn mühelos und stille bist du Über den Mühsamen aufgegangen. Mir gehst du freundlich unter und auf, o Licht, Und wohl erkennt mein Auge dich, herrliches! Denn göttlich stille ehren lernt ich, Da Diotima den Sinn mir heilte. O du, des Himmels Botin, wie lauscht ich dir, Dir, Diotima! Liebe! wie sah von dir Zum goldnen Tage dieses Auge Glänzend und dankend empor. Da rauschten Lebendiger die Quellen, es atmeten Der dunkeln Erde Blüten mich liebend an, Und lächelnd über Silberwolken Neigte sich segnend herab der Äther.
About the headline (FAQ)
Published in 1846 with the title "Am Abend".Note provided by John Paton: Hölderlin borrowed the name Diotima from Plato's Symposium and applied it to Susette Gontard, whose children he tutored. She was the secret, unrequited love of his life.
Authorship:
- by Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843), "Geh unter, schöne Sonne...", written 1799 [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 Gottfried von Einem (1918 - 1996), "Geh' unter, schöne Sonne", op. 42 no. 3, first performed 1975 [ mezzo-soprano, baritone, chorus, and orchestra ], from cantata An die Nachgeborenen, no. 3, Boosey & Hawkes [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wolfgang Fortner (1907 - 1987), "Geh unter, schöne Sonne", 1933 [ medium voice and piano ], from Vier Gesänge nach Worten von Hölderlin, no. 4, Schott Music [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Josef Matthias Hauer (1883 - 1959), "Am Abend", op. 32 (Sieben Lieder) no. 5 (1924) [ medium voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Paul von Klenau (1883 - 1946), "Am Abend", 1942 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wolfgang Nening (b. 1966), "Geh unter schöne Sonne", 1991/1992 [ mezzo-soprano and guitar; or mezzo-soprano and string trio; or high voice and piano ], from Fünf Hölderlin-Fragmente, no. 5 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Walter Steffens (b. 1934), "Geh unter, schöne Sonne", op. 95 no. 4 (2008) [ voice and piano ], from Fünf Gesänge auf Hölderlin für mittlere Gesangsstimme und Klavier, no. 4 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (John Glenn Paton) , "Go down, lovely sun", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 102
Go down, lovely sun, they paid little heed to you; they knew you not, holy one. For effortlessly and silently you rose over those who must work hard. To me you are friendly, rising or setting, o Light, and indeed my eye recognizes you, magnificent one! for I learned divine, quiet respect when Diotima healed my mind. O you messenger of Heaven, how I listened to you, to you, Diotima, love! How my eye gazed from you to the golden day, upward, gleaming and full of thanks. Then murmured the springs more vitally, breathed the dark earth's blossoms lovingly on me, and smiling over silver clouds, the sky bowed down in blessing.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2004 by John Glenn Paton, (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 Friedrich Hölderlin (1770 - 1843), "Geh unter, schöne Sonne...", written 1799
This text was added to the website: 2004-05-26
Line count: 16
Word count: 112