by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)
Translation by Alma Strettell (1856 - 1939)
Draußen ziehen weiße Flocken
Language: German (Deutsch)
Draußen ziehen weiße Flocken Durch die Nacht, der Sturm ist laut; Hier im Stübchen ist es trocken, Warm und einsam, stillvertraut. Sinnend sitz ich auf dem Sessel, An dem knisternden Kamin, Kochend summt der Wasserkessel Längst verklungne Melodien. Und ein Kätzchen sitzt daneben, Wärmt die Pfötchen an der Glut; Und die Flammen schweben, weben, Wundersam wird mir zu Mut. Dämmernd kommt heraufgestiegen Manche längst vergeßne Zeit, Wie mit bunten Maskenzügen Und verblichner Herrlichkeit. Schöne Fraun, mit kluger Miene, Winken süßgeheimnisvoll, Und dazwischen Harlekine Springen, lachen, lustigtoll. Ferne grüßen Marmorgötter, Traumhaft neben ihnen stehn Märchenblumen, deren Blätter In dem Mondenlichte wehn. Wackelnd kommt herbeigeschwommen Manches alte Zauberschloß; Hintendrein geritten kommen Blanke Ritter, Knappentroß. Und das alles zieht vorüber, Schattenhastig übereilt - Ach! da kocht der Kessel über, Und das nasse Kätzchen heult.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), "Altes Kaminstück", appears in Neue Gedichte, in Zur Ollea, no. 6 [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 Arthur Dangel (b. 1931), "Altes Kaminstück", op. 101 no. 6 (2005) [ baritone and piano ], from Heine-Zyklus (zur "Ollea") : Zehn Lieder mit Gedichten von Heinrich Heine, no. 6 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Franz von Gernerth (1822 - 1901), "Altes Kaminstück", from Lieder-Album: 15 Lieder und Gesänge, no. 15 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Derek Healey (b. 1936), "Weisse Flocken", op. 137 no. 1 (2014) [ mezzo-soprano and piano ], from Heinelieder, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Charles I. Lederer , "Am Kamine", published 1905, from Four Lyrics, no. 4, also set in English [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Alma Strettell (1856 - 1939) , "By the fireside", appears in Poems Selected from Heinrich Heine, ed. by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker, London: Walter Scott, Limited, pages 235-236, first published 1887 ; composed by Charles I. Lederer.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-03-14
Line count: 32
Word count: 131
By the fireside
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
Out of doors to-night there is a storm, Earth is shrouded in a snowy dress; But within, this little room is warm -- And a place of peaceful loneliness. Here I sit and dream of many things By the brightly blazing hearth, and low At my side the boiling kettle sings As I used to hear it long ago. And the kitten crouches by the fire, Warms its little paws and purrs aloud; While the flames dance gaily, leaping higher, Through my mind the strangest fancies crowd. Dim and misty shapes before my eyes, Pictures of forgotten days and dead, Like some pale and faded pageant rise, Or some quaint old-fashioned masquerade. Lovely women first, with earnest face, Beckon, with a sweet mysterious air; Then, among them, harlequins grimace, Laugh, and cut their capers here and there. Marble gods, with features still and grave, Greet me from afar; and round them grow, In the moonlight, fairy flowers that wave Dreamily their petals to and fro. Presently a castle old and grey, With a heavy tread, appears in sight; After it come riding fast, a gay Company of knights, in armour bright. One by one the pictures fade and grow Misty, and I bid them all farewell . . . Ah ! the kettle's boiling over now, And the scalded kitten gives a yell!
Authorship:
- by Alma Strettell (1856 - 1939), "By the fireside", appears in Poems Selected from Heinrich Heine, ed. by Kate Freiligrath Kroeker, London: Walter Scott, Limited, pages 235-236, first published 1887 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856), "Altes Kaminstück", appears in Neue Gedichte, in Zur Ollea, no. 6
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Charles I. Lederer , "By the fireside", published 1905, from Four Lyrics, no. 4, also set in German (Deutsch) [text not verified]
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2013-01-11
Line count: 32
Word count: 222