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Ruhig umkreisen wir, Leuchtende [Geister]1, hier Dich, Ewigkeit! Haben auf deine Macht Ewiges Lied erdacht, Singen's in stiller Nacht Wandernder Zeit. Maß süßer Harmonie, Das uns Natur verlieh, Lenkt unsern Gang. Aber mit freiem Tritt, Irrend holdsel'gem Schritt, Geht Gottes Liebe mit, Führt den Gesang. Kreisend mißt unser Zug Sommers und Winters Flug, [Grenzt]2 Nacht und Tag. Aber kein Schlummer ist Hier, wo man nicht vergißt; Und keine Stunde mißt Ewigen Tag. Ringender Geister Schaar Bringen wir opfernd dar, Freunde des Sohns,-- Selber wir ringenden, Nächte durchdringenden, Hölle bezwingenden Engel des Throns. So gehn wir wandellos Hin in Allvaters Schooß, Boten des Herrn; Tönend [in Kreisen]3 dicht, Selig bewußter Pflicht, Führt uns dein [ewig]4 Licht, Bethlehems Stern.
Confirmed with: C. Reinhold, Gedichte, Stuttgart: Carl Mäcken, 1853, pages 59-60.
1 Köstlin (1838 and 1847 publications), Lorenz: "Knaben"2 Lorenz: "Misst"
3 Lorenz: "im Kreise"
4 Köstlin (1838 and 1847 publications), Lorenz: "himmlisch"
Text Authorship:
- by Christian Reinhold (1813 - 1856), "Gesang der Sterne", appears in Gedichte, in Lieder und vermischte Gedichte, first published 1838 [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 Oswald Lorenz (1806 - 1889), "Gesang der Sterne", published 1841 [ women's chorus and piano ], in: Sammlung von Musik-Stücken alter und neuer Zeit als Zulage zur Neuen Zeitschrift für Musik, Heft 15 (November 1841) [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Song of the stars", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-02-02
Line count: 35
Word count: 122
Quietly here we, Shining [spirits]1, Orbit around you, Eternity! [In praise of] your power, we have Conceived an eternal song; We sing it in the quiet night Of wandering time. The measure of sweet harmony That Nature gave us Directs our path. But with unfettered tread, With most lovely meandering steps, God’s love walks with us, Leading the song. Circling, our path measures The flight of summer and winter, [Creates borders for]2 night and day. But there is no slumber Here, where one does not forget; And no hour measures Eternal day. The throng of struggling spirits We bring as offerings, Friends of the Son,-- We ourselves struggling, Penetrating nights, Conquering hell Are angels of the throne. Thus we go on unchangingly Thither, to the lap of the Allfather, Messengers of the Lord; As we resound in [close circles]3 Of the duty of which we are blessedly aware, Your [eternal]4 light leads us, Bethlehem's star.
1 Köstlin (1838 and 1847 publications), Lorenz: "youths"
2 Lorenz: "Measuring"
3 Lorenz: "a close circle"
4 Köstlin (1838 and 1847 publications), Lorenz: "heavenly"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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 Christian Reinhold (1813 - 1856), "Gesang der Sterne", appears in Gedichte, in Lieder und vermischte Gedichte, first published 1838
This text was added to the website: 2025-02-02
Line count: 35
Word count: 160