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Ein leises, fernes Rauschen klingt Vom Bergeshaupt hernieder, Und wie es schwillt und näher dringt, Vernehm' ich Wipfellieder. Waldharfen viele tausend stehn Festwurzelnd am Gelände, Die schlägt der Wind, darüber gehn Läßt er die starken Hände. Es säuselt und es saust und tönt, Kommt hoch daher gezogen, Der ganze Bergwald braust und dröhnt Und schwingt in grünen Wogen. Wie Wolkenflug vorüber wallt Das Schauern in den Zweigen. Bis es dahin stirbt und verhallt In Flüsterhauch und Schweigen. Ja, Vöglein, wer da singen mag! Wir kleinen Spielleut lauschen, Wenn von des großen Griff und Schlag Waldharfen um uns rauschen.
Text Authorship:
- by Julius Wolff (1834 - 1910), "Waldharfen", appears in Singuf: Rattenfängerlieder, first published 1881 [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 Otto Lessmann (1844 - 1918), "Waldharfen", op. 30 no. 2, published 1893 [ voice and piano ], from Zwei Lieder aus den Singuf-Liedern von Julius Wolff, no. 2, Berlin, Fürstner [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hugo Riemann (1849 - 1919), "Waldharfen", op. 43, published 1885 [ low voice and piano ], Hamburg, Rahter [sung text not yet checked]
- by Hans Sommer (1837 - 1922), "Waldharfen", op. 4 no. 15 (1882/83), published 1884 [ voice and piano ], from Hunold Singuf. Rattenfängerlieder nach Julius Wolff's Dichtungen, no. 15, Braunschweig, H. Litolff [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , "Arpes del bosc", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Forest harps", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2010-02-25
Line count: 20
Word count: 98
A quiet, distant soughing rings From down the mountaintop; And as it swells and comes ever closer I discern treetop-songs. Forest harps, many thousands stand Firmly rooted in the terrain, The wind plays them, over them He lets his strong hands glide. It sighs and it blows and resounds, It comes from afar on high, The whole mountain forest roars and drones And billows in green waves. Like the flight of clouds the shuddering In all the branches passes by. Until it dies and fades away In a whispering breath and silence. Yes, little birds, who might sing there! We little musicians listen When from the great fingering and striking [of the wind] Forest harps sough about us.
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 Julius Wolff (1834 - 1910), "Waldharfen", appears in Singuf: Rattenfängerlieder, first published 1881
This text was added to the website: 2014-05-26
Line count: 20
Word count: 118