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The shopkeeper's mirror
Translations © by Sharon Krebs
Song Cycle by Richard Georg Strauss (1864 - 1949)
View original-language texts alone: Krämerspiegel
Es war einmal ein Bock, ein Bock, Der fraß an einem Blumenstock, der Bock. Musik, du lichte Blumenzier, Wie schmatzt der Bock voll Schmausegier! Er möchte gar vermessen Die Blüten alle, alle fressen. Du liebe Blüte wehre dich, Du Bock und Gierschlung, schere dich! Schere dich, du Bock!
There once was a goat, a goat, Who nibbled on a flowering plant, the goat. Music, you bright floral adornment, How the goat smacks his lips in gluttonous enjoyment! Impudently he wishes To eat up all, all the flowers. You darling blossom defend yourself against this fate, You goat and glutton, be off with you! Be off, you goat!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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 Alfred Kerr (1867 - 1948), no title
Go to the general single-text view
Translator's note for line 1: Although translated as "goat", the word "Bock" refers to the former Berlin music publishing house "Bote & Bock." According to Michael Shane Hurst ("Interpreting Richard Strauss’s Der Krämerspiegel from the Perspectives of the Performers and the Audience," DMA dissertation, University of North Texas, 2007, page 114), the word "Bock" refers specifically to Hugo Bock, one of the partners in the publishing house.
This text was added to the website: 2014-09-13
Line count: 9
Word count: 59
Einst kam der Bock als Bote Zum Rosenkavalier an's Haus, Er klopft mit seiner Pfote, Den Eingang wehrt ein Rosenstrauss. Der Strauss sticht seine Dornen schnell Dem Botenbock durch's dicke Fell. O Bock, zieh mit gesenktem Sterz Hinterwärts, hinterwärts! O Bock, o Botenbock, zieh mit gesenktem Sterz Hinterwärts, hinterwärts!
Once the goat came as a messenger To the house of the Rosenkavalier, He knocked with his paw, His entry was blocked by a bouquet of roses. With the bouquet’s thorns the ostrich quickly stabs The messenger-goat through his thick pelt. Oh goat, be off with your tail between your legs Back where you came from, back where you came from!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Alfred Kerr (1867 - 1948), no title
Go to the general single-text view
Translator's notes
Stanza 1, Line 1: Although translated as "goat" and "messenger", respectively, the words "Bock" and "Bote" refer to the former Berlin music publishing house "Bote & Bock."
Stanza 1, Line 2: "Rosenkavalier" is the name of an opera by Strauss.
Stanza 2, line 1: In keeping with the animal motif, Strauss’s own name was rendered as "ostrich"; in this translation the ostrich uses the thorns of the rose bouquet to stab the goat. Other translators, however, read the "Strauss" as bouquet and have the bouquet do its own stabbing. Both interpretations are grammatically possible.
This text was added to the website: 2014-09-13
Line count: 8
Word count: 61
Es liebte einst ein Hase Die salbungsvolle Phrase, Obschon wie ist das sonderbar, Sein Breitkopf hart und härter war. Hu, wisst ihr, was mein Hase tut? Oft saugt er Komponistenblut Und platzt hernach vor Edelmut.
Once upon a time there was a rabbit who loved The unctuous phrase, Despite the astounding fact That his wide head became hard and harder. Ugh, do you know what this rabbit of mine does? Often he sucks the blood of composers And afterwards he’s bursting with magnanimity.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Alfred Kerr (1867 - 1948), no title
Go to the general single-text view
Translator's notes:
Line 1: Although translated as "rabbit", the word "Hase" is actually the name of one of the owners of the music publishing house "Breitkopf und Härtel" during the late 19th century.
Line 4: A pun: "Breitkopf" literally translates as "wide head" and the German words "hart und härter" (literally, "hard and harder") refer to the "Härtel" part of the name of the publishing house.
This text was added to the website: 2014-09-13
Line count: 7
Word count: 48
Drei Masken sah ich am Himmel stehn Wie Larven sind sie anzusehn. O Schreck, Dahinter sieht man Herrn Friedmann!
I saw three masks upon the heavens They look like disguises. Oh horror, Behind them one sees Mr. Friedmann!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Alfred Kerr (1867 - 1948), no title
Go to the general single-text view
Translator's notes:
Line 1: In addition to being a take-off on the first line of "Die Nebensonnen" from Winterreise, this line refers to the publishing house "Drei Masken Verlag."
Line 5: Ludwig Friedmann was the founder of the publishing house "Drei Masken Verlag."
This text was added to the website: 2014-09-13
Line count: 5
Word count: 19
Hast du ein Tongedicht vollbracht, Nimm vor den Füchsen dich in Acht. Denn solche Brüder Reinecke, Die fressen dir das Deinige! Das Deinige! Die Brüder Reinecke!
When you have completed a tone poem, Then look out for the foxes. For such Brethren Reynard Will eat up what is yours!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Alfred Kerr (1867 - 1948), no title
Go to the general single-text view
Translator's notes:
Line 2: "Foxes" refers the publishing firm, Gebrüder Reinecke Musikverlag.
Line 3: "Reinecke Fuchs" is the German equivalent of "Reynard the Fox."
This text was added to the website: 2014-09-13
Line count: 4
Word count: 23
O lieber Künstler sei ermahnt Und übe Vorsicht jedenfalls! Wer in gewissen Kähnen kahnt, Dem steigt das Wasser bis zum Hals. Und wenn ein dunkel trübes Licht Verdächtig aus dem Nebel lugt, Lustwandle auf der Lienau nicht, Weil dort der lange Robert spukt! Dein Säckel wird erobert Vom langen Robert!
Oh dear artist be warned And practise prudence in any case! He who rows in certain boats Is soon in water up to his neck. And when a dark, dim light Peers dubiously from out the fog, Do not go ambling upon the Lienau, Because it is haunted by the tall Robert! Your little sack [of money] will be grabbed By the tall Robert!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Alfred Kerr (1867 - 1948)
Go to the general single-text view
Translator's notes:
Line 3: The words "Kähnen kahnt" in this line are a reference to the Leipzig music publisher C.F. Kahnt.
Line 7: A reference to yet another music publishing house, Robert Lienau Musikverlag.
Lines 8 and 10: "Robert" refers to the owner of the Robert Lienau Musikverlag.
This text was added to the website: 2014-09-13
Line count: 10
Word count: 64
Unser Feind ist, grosser Gott, Wie der Brite so der Schott. Manchen hat er unentwegt Auf das Streckbett hingelegt. Täglich wird er kecker. O du Strecker!
Our enemy is, great God, Like the Brit, so also the Scot. Many a person he has incessantly Subjected to the torture of the rack. Every day he becomes more audacious Oh you ‘stretcher!’
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Alfred Kerr (1867 - 1948), no title
Go to the general single-text view
Translator's notes:
Line 2: Although translated as "Scot" here, "Schott" refers to the music publishing house Schott.
Line 6: According to Michael Shane Hurst (Interpreting Richard Strauss’s Der Krämerspiegel from the Perspectives of the Performers and the Audience, DMA dissertation, University of North Texas, 2007, page 116), the word "Strecker" refers to Ludwig Strecker, who headed the Schott publishing house. The torture rack imagery in this poem stems from that name.
This text was added to the website: 2014-09-13
Line count: 6
Word count: 34
Von Händlern wird die Kunst bedroht, Da habt ihr die Bescherung. Sie bringen der Musik den Tod, Sich selber die Verklärung.
Art is threatened by the mongers, There you have the state of affairs. To music they bring death, To themselves glorification.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Alfred Kerr (1867 - 1948), no title
Go to the general single-text view
Translator's note for lines 3-4: According to Michael Shane Hurst in Interpreting Richard Strauss’s Der Krämerspiegel from the Perspectives of the Performers and the Audience, DMA dissertation, University of North Texas, 2007, page 116), the words that end these two lines ("Tod" and "Verklärung") are a reference to Strauss’s tone poem "Tod und Verklärung."
This text was added to the website: 2014-09-13
Line count: 4
Word count: 21
Es war mal eine Wanze, Die ging, die ging auf's Ganze. Gab einen Duft, der nie verflog, Und sog und sog. Doch Musici, Die packten sie Und knackten sie. Und als die Wanze starb und stank, Ein Lobgesang zum Himmel drang.
There was once a bedbug, It went, it went the whole way. Gave forth a scent that never dissipated, And sucked and sucked. But Musici [the musicians] Nabbed it And cracked it. And as the bedbug died and stank, A song of praise was raised toward heaven.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Alfred Kerr (1867 - 1948), no title
Go to the general single-text view
Translator's note for the word "bedbug": According to Michael Shane Hurst in Interpreting Richard Strauss’s Der Krämerspiegel from the Perspectives of the Performers and the Audience, DMA dissertation, University of North Texas, 2007, page 116), the word "Wanze" is also German slang for the musical symbol "sharp."
This text was added to the website: 2014-09-13
Line count: 9
Word count: 47
Die Künstler sind die Schöpfer, Ihr Unglück sind die Schröpfer. Wer trampelt durch den Künstlerbau Als wie der Ochs von Lerchenau? Wer stellt das Netz als Jäger? Wer ist der Geldsackpfleger? Wer ist der Zankerreger? Und der Bazillenträger? Der biedere, der freundliche, Der treffliche, der edle Verleger.
Artists are the creators, Their misfortune is those who fleece them. Who tramples through a work of art Like a bull in a china shop? Who as a hunter sets up nets? Who is man who guards the moneybags? Who incites quarrels? And [who is] a carrier of bacteria? The worthy, the friendly, The splendid, the noble publisher.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Alfred Kerr (1867 - 1948), no title
Go to the general single-text view
Translator's notes:
Line 4: Literally, "the Ox of Lerchenau." Der Ox von Lerchenau was the original title for Richard Strauss’s Rosenkavalier.
Line 7: The word "Erreger" can mean someone who incites something, but it can also mean "pathogen", which ties in nicely to the next line of the poem.
This text was added to the website: 2014-09-13
Line count: 10
Word count: 58
Die Händler und die Macher Sind mit Profit und Schacher Des "HELDEN" Widersacher. Der lässt ein Wort erklingen Wie Götz von Berlichingen.
The mongers and the movers and shakers, With [their concerns about] profit and haggling, Are the adversaries of the HERO. He lets a word ring out Like Götz von Berlichingen.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Alfred Kerr (1867 - 1948), no title
Go to the general single-text view
Translator's notes:
Line 3: The word "Helden" refers to Richard Strauss’s tone poem Ein Heldenleben.
Line 4: The "word" is actually a phrase (see following footnote).
Line 5: A play by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, in which the eponymous hero sends a rude message to a military captain. In the 1771 version, the infamous words are represented by dashes. In the 1773 version, they are written out ("er kann mich im Arsch lecken", rendered more mildly in English as "he can kiss my ass.")
This text was added to the website: 2014-09-13
Line count: 5
Word count: 30
O Schröpferschwarm, o Händlerkreis, Wer schiebt dir einen Riegel? Das tat mit alter Schelmenweis' Till Eulenspiegel.
Oh swarm of fleecers, oh set of mongers, Who is going to put a stop to your activities? That was done with old impish cunning By [Till Eulenspiegel.]1
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Alfred Kerr (1867 - 1948), no title
Go to the general single-text view
View original text (without footnotes)1 Richard Strauss composed a tone poem of that name; however, according to Michael Shane Hurst (Interpreting Richard Strauss’s Der Krämerspiegel from the Perspectives of the Performers and the Audience, DMA dissertation, University of North Texas, 2007, page 117), this is a reference not to the character Till Eulenspiegel, but to Strauss himself.
This text was added to the website: 2014-09-13
Line count: 4
Word count: 29