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Märchenartig aus den Wassern Ragt die alte Schloßruine Und der Silberschein des Mondes Zittert durch die Fensterbogen. Sommernacht so lau und milde Dehnt sich über Land und Wasser, Wonnevolle Blüthendüfte Hauchen Balsam von dem Ufer. Und aus ihrem Wogenbette Tauchen leise auf die Nixen Mit den goldnen Lockenhäuptern, Weiß umkränzt von Wasserlilien. Horch! ein Huschen und ein Plätschern Und es schweben und es klingen Wunderbare Harfentöne Zum Gesang von holden Stimmen. Silberweiße Luftgewänder Flattern leis im Mondenglanze Und so schlingen sie den Reigen In des alten Schlosses Trümmern. Plötzlich hält der Reigen stille Und es winkt die zarte, bleiche Königin, die lilienschöne, -- Denn es naht der junge Morgen. Und die schönen holden Nixen Tauchen in die tiefen Fluten; Traurig neigen sich die Weiden Von dem Ufer in die Wellen. Und der Tag erhellt die Trümmer; Traurig schaun sie aus dem Wasser, Und aus den verfallnen Mauern Blickt die Pracht verschollner Zeiten.
Confirmed with Theodor Souchay, Gedichte, Stuttgart: Karl Aue, 1873, pages 4-5.
Authorship:
- by Theodor Souchay (1833 - 1903), "Nixenreigen", written 1857, appears in Gedichte, in Romanzen und Balladen, appears in Frisch vom Herzen! Lieder und Dichtungen, in 4. Romanzero [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 Wilhelm Reinhard Berger (1861 - 1911), "Nixenreigen", op. 10, published 1882 [ four-part mixed chorus with piano four-hands ], Bremen, Praeger & Meier [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hans Huber (1852 - 1921), "Nixenreigen", op. 93 (Vier Gesänge für gemischten Chor mit Pianofortebegleitung) no. 2, published 1886 [ mixed chorus and piano ], Leipzig, Rieter-Biedermann [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Roundelay of the nixies", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2023-09-21
Line count: 32
Word count: 151
Fairy-tale-like from the waters The old castle ruins rise And the silvery radiance of the moon Trembles through the window-arches. A summer night so balmy and mild Stretches over land and waters, Blissful scents of blossoms Breathe balm from the shoreline. And from their bed of waves The nixies quietly surface, With their heads of golden curls Twined about with the white of waterlilies. Listen! a flitting and a splashing And wondrous harp tones Waft and sound To the singing of lovely voices. Silver-white, airy garments Flutter quietly in the moonlight And thus they form the roundelay In the ruins of the old castle. Suddenly the roundelay stops And the delicate, pale queen, Lovely as a lily, beckons, -- For the young morning approaches. And the beautiful, lovely nixies Dive into the deep waters; Sadly, the willows incline From the shore into the waves. And daylight illuminates the ruins; They gaze sadly from out of the water, And from the fallen walls gazes forth The glory of vanished times.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Theodor Souchay (1833 - 1903), "Nixenreigen", written 1857, appears in Gedichte, in Romanzen und Balladen, appears in Frisch vom Herzen! Lieder und Dichtungen, in 4. Romanzero
This text was added to the website: 2023-09-23
Line count: 32
Word count: 168