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Six songs
Translations © by David Kenneth Smith
Song Cycle by Clara Schumann (1819 - 1896)
View original-language texts alone: Sechs Lieder
Was weinst du, Blümlein,
Im Morgenschein?
Das Blümlein lachte --:
Was fällt dir ein!
Ich bin ja fröhlich,
Ich weine nicht, --
Die Freudenthräne
Durch's Aug' mir bricht! --
...
Du Morgenhimmel!
Bist blutig roth,
Als läge deine Sonne
Im Meere todt?
Da lacht der Himmel
Und ruft mich an:
Ich streue ja Rosen
Auf ihre Bahn! --
Und strahlend flammte
Die Sonn' hervor,
Die Blumen blühten
Freudig empor.
Des Baches Wellen
Jauchzten auf,
Und die Sonne lachte
Freundlich darauf
Why weep, dear blossom, in morning sun? The blossom giggled: "Now what a thought! I am but joyful, I do not weep - and joyful tears in my eyes well up." [ ... ] With radiant flaming the sun shone forth, the flowers blossomed cheerfully up. The brooklets gurgled joyful on, and the sun thus laughed its warm-hearted laugh. [ ... ]
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by David Kenneth Smith, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.
David Kenneth Smith. Contact: dksmith (AT) geneva.edu
If the copyright-holder(s) are unreachable for three business days, please write to: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Rollett (1819 - 1904), "Stille Freude"
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 85
An einem lichten Morgen, Da klingt es hell im Thal: Wach' auf, du liebe Blume, Ich bin der Sonnenstral! Erschließe mit Vertrauen Dein Blütenkämmerlein Und laß die heiße Liebe Ins Heiligtum hinein. Ich will ja nichts verlangen Als liegen dir im Schoos, Und deine Blüte küssen -- Eh sie verwelkt im Moos. Ich will ja nichts begehren, Als ruhn an deiner Brust, Und dich dafür verklären Mit sonnenheller Lust!
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Rollett (1819 - 1904), no title, appears in Frische Lieder, in 1. Frühling, in 2. Auferstehungsklänge, no. 2, Ulm, Stettin'sche Verlags-Buchhandlung, first published 1848
See other settings of this text.
Confirmed with Frische Lieder von Hermann Rollett, Zweite vermehrte Auflage, Ulm, Stettin'sche Verlags-Buchhandlung, 1850, pages 19-20. Note: modern spelling would change the following words:
Thal -> Tal, Sonnenstral -> Sonnenstrahl, Schoos -> Schoß
On morning bright and shining, there rings clear through the vale, "Wake up, beloved flower, I am the ray of sun! "Now open confidently your little blossom heart and let my burning love-beams into your holy shrine. "I nothing more require than to lie upon your chest and on your bloom lay kisses 'till in the moss you droop. "I nothing more desire than to sleep up on your breast and thus I will transform you with sunshine's shining joy."
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by David Kenneth Smith, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.
David Kenneth Smith. Contact: dksmith (AT) geneva.edu
If the copyright-holder(s) are unreachable for three business days, please write to: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Rollett (1819 - 1904), no title, appears in Frische Lieder, in 1. Frühling, in 2. Auferstehungsklänge, no. 2, Ulm, Stettin'sche Verlags-Buchhandlung, first published 1848
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 81
... Geheimes Flüstern hier und dort, Verborgnes Quellenrauschen -- O Wald, o Wald, geweihter Ort, Laß mich des Lebens reinstes Wort, in Zweig und Blatt belauschen! Und schreit' ich in den Wald hinaus, Da grüßen mich die Bäume. Du liebes, freies Gotteshaus, Du schließest mich mit Sturmgebraus In deine kühlen Räume! ... Was leise mich umschwebt, umklingt, -- Ich will es treu bewahren, Und was mir tief zum Herzen dringt, Will ich, vom Geist der Lieb' beschwingt, In Liedern offenbaren!
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Rollett (1819 - 1904), "Waldeszauber", appears in Gedichte, in 2. Friedliche Stimmen, first published 1846
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Note: Clara Schumann switches the stanzas around; her setting begins "Geheimes Flüstern hier und dort".
[ ... ] Soft, secret whispers here and there, and springs with hidden murmurs, o wood, o wood, o sacred spot, o let me hear life's purest word in ev'ry twig and leaflet! And striding out into the wood, I'm greeted by the saplings, the dear and open house of God, Embracing me with roaring storm In your refreshing spaces! [ ... ] What ever soars and sings 'round me, I will preserve it truly, what ever pierces deep my heart, I will, by Love's own spirit borne, by singing songs reveal it.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by David Kenneth Smith, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.
David Kenneth Smith. Contact: dksmith (AT) geneva.edu
If the copyright-holder(s) are unreachable for three business days, please write to: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Rollett (1819 - 1904), "Waldeszauber", appears in Gedichte, in 2. Friedliche Stimmen, first published 1846
Go to the general single-text view
Note: this is a translation of the stanzas used in Clara Schumann's setting. If you are viewing this as a single translation, you will need to re-order the stanzas to match her sung text. If you're viewing the aggregation of the translation of all the songs in the collection, they have already been reordered for you.
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 92
Auf einem grünen Hügel
Da steht ein Röslein hell,
Und wenn ich roth, roth Röslein seh' --
So roth wie lauter Liebe --
Möcht' weinen ich zur Stell'!
Auf einem grünen Hügel
Da stehn zwei Blümlein blau,
Und wenn ich blau, blau Blümlein seh' --
So blau, wie blaue Äuglein,
Durch Thränen ich sie schau'!
...
Auf einem grünen Hügel
Da singt ein Vögelein;
Mir ist's, als säng's: Wer niemals Leid --
Recht großes Leid erfahren,
Wird nie recht glücklich sein!
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Rollett (1819 - 1904), no title, appears in Jucunde, first published 1853
Go to the general single-text view
Confirmed with Jucunde von Hermann Rollett, Leipzig, Verlag von Otto Wigand, 1853, pages 61-62.Upon a green, green hillock,
there grows a lovely rose,
and when a red, red rose I see,
as red as purest love is,
I'd weep upon the spot!
Upon a green, green hillock,
there grow two flowers blue,
and when two blue, blue flow'rs I see,
as blue as small blue eyes are,
I see them through my tears!
[ ... ]
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by David Kenneth Smith, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.
David Kenneth Smith. Contact: dksmith (AT) geneva.edu
If the copyright-holder(s) are unreachable for three business days, please write to: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Rollett (1819 - 1904), no title, appears in Jucunde, first published 1853
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 15
Word count: 85
Das ist ein Tag, der klingen mag -- Die Wachtel schlägt im Korn, Die Lerche jauchzt mit Jubelschlag Wohl überm hellen grünen Hag, Der Jäger bläst in's Horn. Frau Nachtigall ruft süßen Schall, Durch's Laub ein Flüstern zieht, Das Echo tönt im Widerhall, Es klingt und singt allüberall --: Das ist ein Frühlingslied!
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Rollett (1819 - 1904), no title, appears in Jucunde, first published 1853
See other settings of this text.
Titled "Ein Frühlingslied" in collections.Confirmed with Jucunde von Hermann Rollett, Leipzig, Verlag von Otto Wigand, 1853, page 7.
This is a day for singing songs - the quail in the grainfield trills, the lark rejoicing jubilates all over verdant bright green hedge, the hunter blows his horn. Dame Nightingale calls sweetest sounds through leaves a whisper goes, the echo answers in return, it rings and sings all ev'rywhere this is a song of spring.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by David Kenneth Smith, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.
David Kenneth Smith. Contact: dksmith (AT) geneva.edu
If the copyright-holder(s) are unreachable for three business days, please write to: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Rollett (1819 - 1904), no title, appears in Jucunde, first published 1853
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 56
O Lust, o Lust, vom Berg ein Lied In's Land hinab zu singen! Der kleinste Ton hinunter zieht, So wie auf Riesenschwingen! Der stillste Hauch aus lauter Brust, In Leid und Lust entrungen, Er wird zum Klange, unbewußt Für alle Welt gesungen. Es schwingt sich erd- und himmelwärts Der Seele klingend Sehnen, Und fällt der ganzen Welt an's Herz -- Ob freudig, ob in Thränen. Was still sonst nur die Brust durchzieht, Fliegt aus auf lauten Schwingen, -- O Lust, o Lust, vom Berg ein Lied In's Land hinab zu singen!
Text Authorship:
- by Hermann Rollett (1819 - 1904), no title, appears in Jucunde, first published 1853
See other settings of this text.
Confirmed with Jucunde von Hermann Rollett, Leipzig, Verlag von Otto Wigand, 1853, pages 31-32.
O joy, o joy, from mountain top through all the land I'm singing! The smallest tone dives ever down, like giant eagles winging! The softest breath from singing breast, when born in joy and grieving, is turned to song and unbeknownst to all the world is sung forth. It wings on earth- and heavenward this ringing spirit pining and moves the whole world at its heart - to laughter or to crying. What only in the heart is known, flies out on wings a-ringing O joy, o joy, from mountain top through all the land I'm singing!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 1996 by David Kenneth Smith, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., please ask the copyright-holder(s) directly.
David Kenneth Smith. Contact: dksmith (AT) geneva.edu
If the copyright-holder(s) are unreachable for three business days, please write to: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Hermann Rollett (1819 - 1904), no title, appears in Jucunde, first published 1853
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 97