by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852)
Translation by Emil Aarestrup (1800 - 1856)
The origin of the harp
Language: English
Available translation(s): FRE
'Tis believed that this Harp, which I wake now for thee Was a Siren of old, who sung under the sea; And who often, at eve, through the bright waters roved, To meet, on the green shore, a youth whom she loved. But she loved him in vain, for he left her to weep, And in tears, all the night, her gold tresses to steep, Till heaven look'd with pity on true-love so warm, And changed to this soft Harp the sea-maiden's form. Still her bosom rose fair — still her cheeks smiled the same - While her sea-beauties gracefully form'd the light And her hair, as, let loose, o'er her white arm it fell, Was changed to bright chords uttering melody's spell. Hence it came, that this soft Harp so long hath been known To mingle love's language with sorrow's sad tone; Till thou didst divide them, and teach the fond lay To speak love when I'm near thee, and grief when away.
Authorship:
- by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "The origin of the harp", appears in Irish Melodies, first published 1810 [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):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in Danish (Dansk), a translation by Emil Aarestrup (1800 - 1856) , "Harpens Oprindelse" ; composed by Valdemar Fini Henriques.
- Also set in French (Français), adapted by Thomas Gounet (1801 - 1869) [an adaptation] ; composed by Hector Berlioz.
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Ignaz Brüll.
- Also set in Russian (Русский), a translation by Lev L'vovich Kobylinsky (1889 - 1947) , appears in Irlandskikh Melodij ; composed by Sergei Ivanovich Taneyev.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Pierre Mathé) , "L'origine de la harpe", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-03
Line count: 16
Word count: 164
Harpens Oprindelse
Language: Danish (Dansk)  after the English
Man vil vide, at Harpen, jeg slaaer for min Møe, Den var eengang en Havfru, som sang under Søe Og som sværmed hver Aften i Bølgernes blaa For paa Stranden den Yngling, hun elsked, at naae. Hendes Elskov forsmaaedes, hun sukked forladt, Sine Guldhaar hun vædet med Taarer hver Nat Indtil Himlen med Ynk over tro Elskovs Nød Den skjøn Havfru gav Form af en Strengeleg sød. Endnu Kinden gav Smiil, endnu Barmen steg rund, Da hver Søeskjønhed svandt i den klangfulde Bund. Hendes Haar, hver en Lok, der af Taarer var fuld, Over Armene sænktes som Strenge af Guld Deraf kom det, at Harpen sin Kjærligheds Fryd Sammenblanded saa længe med Kummerens Lyd Til du, Elskte har skildt dem, og lært hver især, Er du fjern, tone Sorg, tone Lyst, er du nær.
Authorship:
- by Emil Aarestrup (1800 - 1856), "Harpens Oprindelse" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in English by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852), "The origin of the harp", appears in Irish Melodies, first published 1810
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Valdemar Fini Henriques (1867 - 1940), "Harpens Oprindelse", op. 9 (Fire Sange) no. 3, published 1892 [ voice and piano ], Leipzig, Wilhelm Hansen [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2011-05-06
Line count: 16
Word count: 134